Details:

Alternative Title:
Travel Med Infect Dis
Personal Author:
Chen, Lin H. ; Han, Pauline V. ; Wilson, Mary E. ; Stoney, Rhett J. ; Jentes, Emily S. ; ... More +
Chen, Lin H. ; Han, Pauline V. ; Wilson, Mary E. ; Stoney, Rhett J. ; Jentes, Emily S. ; Benoit, Christine ; Ooi, Winnie W. ; Barnett, Elizabeth D. ; Hamer, Davidson H. Less -
Description:
Background

The Boston Area Travel Medicine Network surveyed travelers on travel-related health problems.

Methods

Travelers were recruited 2009–2011 during pre-travel consultation at three clinics. The investigation included pre-travel data, weekly during-travel diaries, and a post-travel questionnaire. We analyzed demographics, trip characteristics, health problems experienced, and assessed the relationship between influenza vaccination, influenza prevention advice, and respiratory symptoms.

Results

Of 987 enrolled travelers, 628 (64%) completed all surveys, of which 400 (64%) reported health problems during and/or after travel; median trip duration was 12 days. Diarrhea affected the most people during travel (172) while runny/stuffy nose affected the most people after travel (95). Of those with health problems during travel, 25% stopped or altered plans; 1% were hospitalized. After travel, 21% stopped planned activities, 23% sought physician or other health advice; one traveler was hospitalized. Travelers who received influenza vaccination and influenza prevention advice had lower rates of respiratory symptoms than those that received influenza prevention advice alone (18% vs 28%, P = 0.03).

Conclusions

A large proportion of Boston-area travelers reported health problems despite pre-travel consultation, resulting in inconveniences. The combination of influenza prevention advice and influenza immunization was associated with fewer respiratory symptoms than those who received influenza prevention advice alone.


Subject:
[+]
Adult
Article
Boston
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Immunization
Influenza
Influenza, Human
Influenza Vaccines
Internationality
Knowledge-attitudes-practices
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Self Report
Survey
Travel
Travel-associated Health Problems
Young Adult

Source:
Travel Med Infect Dis. 14(6):604-613.
Pubmed ID:
27687076
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC5695040
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:a68cc5db6fe89f71ab8eeda8c9a1e0b79fc6874fa43b7d48ad63648e323b43ba
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	NIHMS919299-supplement-Table_4.pdf	pdf
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