[Self-medication of 193 travelers in the tropics. Recommendations for clinical counseling of tropical travelers and organization of a tropical travel pharmacy].

Medical advice for the traveller is of increasing importance since in the past decade in industrialized countries there is a steady increase in numbers of travellers and distance travelled. Self medication was evaluated in 193 travellers to malaria-endemic areas. Diarrhoea, fever and headache were the most frequent symptoms. Antidiarrhoeal agents, analgetics/antipyretics, antibiotics and oral contraceptives were the drugs most often used by travellers. One case of mefloquine-resistant and chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum malaria acquired in West Africa was reported, another patient took pyrimethamine/sulfadoxine because of suspected malarial fever. The main reasons for drug consumption in travellers to tropical and subtropical areas are functionally divided into 4 groups: vaccination and prophylaxis, medication during the outward and return journey, illness occurring during stay abroad and long-term medication. This classification should be considered when medical advice is given for travellers and is the basis for choosing the contents of a pocket dispensary for travellers.