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Skin Infections in Returned Travelers: an Update

  • Skin, Soft Tissue, Bone and Joint Infectious Diseases (N Safdar, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Dermatologic manifestations of travel-related illness are particularly vexing due to the broad differential diagnosis and clinicians’ unfamiliarity with uncommonly seen diseases. This paper aims to educate and update the reader on selected infectious diseases in the returned traveler whose disease manifestations are primarily dermatologic. First, the evolving epidemiology of these infections is examined; understanding the geographic distribution of infectious etiologies helps refine and narrow the differential diagnosis. This is followed by a discussion of six important clinical syndromes including cutaneous larva migrans (CLM), cutaneous leishmaniasis, tungiasis, myiasis, antibiotic-resistant skin and soft tissue infection, and selected infections associated with fever and rash (e.g., measles, chikungunya virus infection, dengue fever, rickettsial spotted fevers). Familiarity with these syndromes and a situational awareness of their epidemiology will facilitate a prompt, accurate diagnosis and lead to appropriate treatment and prevention of further disease spread.

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Conflict of Interest

Elizabeth Belanger has no conflicts of interest. Christopher Pfeiffer received funding for other work from Oregon Health Authority.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Robert F. Zimmerman, Elizabeth S. Belanger & Christopher D. Pfeiffer

  2. Department of Hospital and Specialty Medicine, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, P.O. Box 1034 P3-ID, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Christopher D. Pfeiffer

Authors
  1. Robert F. Zimmerman
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  2. Elizabeth S. Belanger
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  3. Christopher D. Pfeiffer
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Correspondence to Christopher D. Pfeiffer.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Skin, Soft Tissue, Bone and Joint Infectious Diseases

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Zimmerman, R.F., Belanger, E.S. & Pfeiffer, C.D. Skin Infections in Returned Travelers: an Update. Curr Infect Dis Rep 17, 10 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-015-0467-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-015-0467-8

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