Spectrum of dermatoses in 165 travelers returning from the tropics with skin diseases

The spectrum of dermatoses occurring in travelers returning from tropical areas is poorly documented. We analyzed the relative frequency of travel-associated dermatoses and their possible relationships to travel characteristics in all persons who came to our hospital between November 2002 and May 2003 for a cutaneous disorder related to travel in a tropical country. One hundred sixty-five travelers were included. The main dermatoses identified were infectious cellulitis (12.7%), scabies (10.3%), and pruritus of unknown origin (PUO) (9.1%). Tropical dermatoses accounted for 33.9% of the cutaneous disorders. Univariate analysis showed statistically significant correlations of infectious cellulitis with females, PUO with older age and immigrant status, pyoderma with expatriate status, scabies with tourism and travel to Africa, myiasis with tourism and travel to Africa and America, filariasis with travel to Africa and immigrant status, and cutaneous larva migrans with tourism. Dermatoses diagnosed in travelers returning from the tropics seemed to be influenced by traveler status and region visited.