Pretravel immunisations and health advice can substantially reduce the inci
dence of travel-related diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the
implementation of pretravel advice among a homogenous group of students, w
ho received similar written information on vaccination requirements and hea
lth advice. They were referred to the travel clinic (50%) or a general prac
titioner (50%) for vaccination, counselling and prescriptions. Eighty-four
out of 110 students (76%) returned the questionnaire.
Insect repellent was used by all and only 10 used the repellent for less th
an 75% of the time spent in malaria endemic areas. Malaria chemoprophylaxis
was taken by all but one : chloroquine plus proquanil by 12 and mefloquine
by 71. Reported compliance with the dosing regimen was optimal in 64 stude
nts, 9 missed one dose and 10 stopped too early. Side effects due to antima
larials were reported by 25 (30%). Diarrhoea during travel occurred in 43 s
tudents (51%). Loperamide was used by 34 students with diarrhoea (79%), but
only 2 out of 27 students with moderate to severe diarrhoea used the recom
mended self-treatment with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.
In conclusion, the recommendations of malaria prophylaxis were well impleme
nted by most travellers despite a high incidence of self-reported side effe
cts to antimalarials. The incidence of traveller's diarrhoea was high and t
he recommendation for early self-treatment of moderate to severe diarrhoea
with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic in combination with loperamide was not pu
t into practice.