Infections In International Travellers Flashcards
What are the symptoms of travellers diarrhoea?
Prolonged diarrhoea
Presence of blood or pus in stools
Fever
What can cause travellers diarrhoea?
E.coli in 70% cases.
Also: rota virus, adenovirus, salmonellas, shigellas, campylobacters and giardia lamblia
What is the presumptive treatment for travellers diarrhoea?
Metronidazole
What are the common clinical features of malaria?
Intermittent bouts of fever, shivering and profuse sweating.
What causes malaria?
Sporozoan parasites of plasmodium falciparum
What is the incubation period for malaria?
2 days to several months
What causes the majority of severe malaria cases?
Plasmodium falciparum.
P.vivax and ovale are more likely to cause chronic relapsing infection.
What are the complications of malaria?
Coma caused by cerebral malaria
Severe haemolysis
Renal failure
What is the treatment for malaria?
Chloroquine. If resistant then quinine should be used.
How do we prevent malaria?
Long sleeves, long trousers, staying inside after duskm insect repellent, mosquito netting over beds.
What is enteric fever?
Refers to typhoid and related infections. These are febrile systemic infections caused by salmonella typhi or paratyphi. Acquired by ingestion
What are the symptoms of enteric fever?
After an incubation period of 10 days there is some fever, headache, chest pain, constipation and small pink macules called rose spots.
What is the preferred treatment for enteric fever?
Iv chloramphenicol or ampicillin
What is the reservoir for salmonella typhi?
Human carriers. Therefore these patients must be prevented from handling food until clear of S.typhi.
