A Comparison of Pretravel Health Care, Travel-Related Exposures, and Illnesses among Pediatric and Adult U.S. Military Beneficiaries.

A Comparison of Pretravel Health Care, Travel-Related Exposures, and Illnesses among Pediatric and Adult U.S. Military Beneficiaries. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2019 Mar 25;: Authors: Ashley DP, Fraser J, Yun H, Kunz A, Fairchok M, Tribble D, Mitra I, Johnson MD, Hickey PW, Ganesan A, Deiss RG, Lalani T, For The Idcrp TravMil Study Group Abstract We evaluated differences in pretravel care, exposures, and illnesses among pediatric and adult travelers, using a prospective, observational cohort. Eighty-one pediatric travelers were matched 1:1 with adult military dependents by travel region, destination's malaria risk, and travel duration. Pediatric travelers were more likely to have coverage for hepatitis A and B (90% versus 67% of adults; 85% versus 44%), visit friends and relatives (36% versus 16%), report mosquito bites (69% versus 44%), and have close contact with wild or domesticated animals (40% versus 20%) than adults (P < 0.05). Subjects < 10 years of age were less likely to be prescribed antibiotics (28% versus 95%; RR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.46-0.85) and antidiarrheals (9% versus 100%; RR = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.03-0.29) for travelers' diarrhea (TD) self-treatment than adults. Travel medicine providers should emphasize strategies for vector avoidance, prevention of animal bites and scratches, and TD self-treatment in pediatric pretravel consultations. PMID: 30915948 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research