[Screening of people with fever returning to Denmark from "the tropics"]

Abstract

A number of febrile diseases imported from the tropics, above all malaria, may, if left untreated, endanger the life of the patient. Microscopy of malaria slides without delay is by far the most important diagnostic tool in all patients who may have been exposed to infection. An accurate, detailed travel history, a knowledge of infections prevalent in areas where the patient has been and a thorough physical examination are essential. However, the majority of persons with fever after travel have a cosmopolitan etiology to their disease. If investigations suggest a possibly exotic yet not clear-cut cause of the febrile condition, it may be desirable to consult a physician with expertise in tropical medicine.