[Health and travel in the tropics].

BACKGROUND

Roughly one-half of all travellers to the tropics become ill, either during or after their journey.

MAJOR POINTS DISCUSSED: For counseling in the doctor's office, both the particular risks of the individual (pregnancy, childhood, chronic illnesses) and the specific situation in the country to be visited, duration of stay there, and the form of travels envisaged (hotel, trekking, safari, etc.), must all be taken into account. The major infectious diseases, their prophylaxis and their treatment are described. In addition to gastrointestinal infections, malaria today heads the list of health risks encountered in tropical countries. Of the almost 1000 cases of malaria reported every year in the FRG, about one-half contracts the feared quotidian (falciparum) malaria. In patients with relevant exposure, any flue-like illness must be suspected to be malaria until proved otherwise. Present-day possibilities of prophylaxis and treatment are presented.