Travel illness in British package holiday tourists: Prospective cohort study

Objectives: To examine the relationship between knowledge of travel health matters, health preparation for travel and risk of travel related illness. Methods: Travellers on holiday charter flights from Cardiff-Wales Airport p rovided information on holiday preparation before departure and were survey ed 2 weeks after return for details of holiday lifestyle and travel illness . Results: Travellers' diarrhoea was reported by 25.7% of 1469 travellers; 24 .4% had sunburn and 7.6% had respiratory infection. Attack rates for travel lers' diarrhoea were highest in people aged 15-34 years (34.1%). Rates were higher the shorter the interval between holiday booking and departure (x(2 ) for linear trend 13.5, 1 df, P < 0.001) and lower in travellers who sough t advice from their general practitioner before departure (adjusted odds ra tio 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.9). The most important predictors fo r travellers' diarrhoea were travel with friends, country of destination, s tay in room only or bed and breakfast accommodation, and type of meals most frequently eaten. Conclusions: Better holiday preparation seems to reduce risk of travel illn ess, even after adjusting for variables that may reflect the more cautious personality of the traveller. Encouragement to book early, take medical adv ice and travel well prepared Could have a positive health benefit, but inte rvention studies are required. (C) 2001 The British Infection Society.