"Tropical" imported diseases: experience of a specialized unit in a general hospital

In the last few years a considerable increase in imported diseases has occurred as a result of an increase in the numbers of travellers, international collaborative organizations, and immigrants. Altogether, this has prompted the setting-up of specialized units. A report is given of the characteristics of patients attended at the Tropical Diseases Unit in the Basurto Hospital, since its set-up in March 1996 to March 1999. A total of 171 patients were attended at this unit after staying in tropical areas. Patients were classified as tourists (72), ONG collaborators (50) and immigrants (49). The origin areas were Africa (84 cases), Central America (49 cases), South America (23 cases) and Asia (15 cases). The main complaints included fever (61 cases), digestive symptoms (40 cases), skin problems (31 cases). The most common diagnoses were malaria (34), self-limited fever (17), self-limited diarrhoea (16), amebiasis (8), giardiasis (6), scabies (7) and cutaneous larva migrans (5). Health care activities included preventive issues, but mainly diagnosis and treatment of imported diseases. Among the attended individuals, there were not only travellers but also a significant proportion of immigrants and ONG collaborators. The most common diseases were malaria and digestive and cutaneous conditions.