13 - Travel Infections Flashcards
(88 cards)
What 2 infections are we focusing on?
1) Traveller’s diarrhea
2) Malaria
_____ is the biggest cause of GI illnesses in travellers
Giardia
VFR
visiting friends and relatives
Why are VFR traveller’s more likely to get sick?
-they believe that if they used to live there, they won’t get sick when they go back
What are numerator factors?
-traveller has returned home before S & S develop, mild symptoms may not be reported, multiple locations visited making it difficult to know where disease was contracted
What are denominator factors?
Knowing the # of travellers to a specific location may be difficult to know accurately
What is TD (traveller’s diarrhea) ?
- Diarrhea associated with travel
- Most predictable travel-related illness
- Affects 30-70% of travellers, depending on destination and season
Mild (acute) TD
- diarrhea that is tolerable
- it is not distressing (no blood in stool or fever)
- does not interfere with planned activities
Moderate (acute) TD
-diarrhea that is distressing or interferes with planned activities
Severe (acute) TD
- diarrhea that is incapacitating or completely prevents planned activities
- all dysentery is considered severe
Describe the etiology of TD
-Contaminated food and/or water
_____ are the most common cause of TD (80-90%)
Bacteria (most commonly E. coli)
____ pathogens are the 2nd most common cause of TD
Viral
Bacterial and viral TD present with a sudden onset of bothersome symptoms - such as ?
- mild cramps
- urgent loose stools
- severe abdominal pain
- fever
- vomiting
- bloody diarrhea
With ______, vomiting may be more prominent
norovirus
Untreated bacterial diarrhea usually lasts ____ days
3-7
Viral diarrhea generally lasts ____ days
2-3
_____ pathogens are the least common cause of TD (less than 5%)
Protozoal
____ is the main protozoal pathogen found in TD
Giardia
Protozoal pathogens:
Incubation period is generally ____ weeks and may persist for weeks to months if not treated
1-2
Low risk areas for TD include ?
- US
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Japan
- Northern and Western Europe
Intermediate risk areas for TD include ?
- Eastern Europe
- South Africa
- some Caribbean islands
High risk areas for TD include ?
- Asia
- Middle east
- Africa
- Mexico
- Central and South American
Low risk area incidence rate
8%