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. 2016 Nov-Dec;14(6):604-613.
doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2016.09.009. Epub 2016 Oct 2.

Self-reported illness among Boston-area international travelers: A prospective study

Lin H Chen  1 , Pauline V Han  2 , Mary E Wilson  3 , Rhett J Stoney  2 , Emily S Jentes  2 , Christine Benoit  4 , Winnie W Ooi  5 , Elizabeth D Barnett  6 , Davidson H Hamer  7
Affiliations

Self-reported illness among Boston-area international travelers: A prospective study

Lin H Chen et al. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2016 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Influenza; Knowledge-attitudes-practices; Survey; Travel; Travel-associated health problems.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors report no financial disclosures relevant to this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study enrollment, those who completed all three data collection surveys, and those who reported health problems during and/or after travel.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Impact of health problems experienced among those who reported health problems during (n =309) and after travel (n = 249).*
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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