Volume 8, Issue 4: Travel Fever

Travel Fever – flu or an infectious tropical disease?

You are working nightshift on a double manned ambulance when a call comes in for a 45 year old male with ‘flu-like symptoms’. The patient’s wife called 999 as the GP surgery was closed and he was looking really unwell, the patient has just returned from a business trip and complains of cold shivers alternating with hot flushes, a headache and generally feeling lethargic.

Potential conditions could be as simple as a severe cold or flu, with the possibility of gastroenteritis, food poisoning or even the result of a cocaine overdose from ingested drugs. How will you assess this patient and decide on the best course of action?

CPD Benefit

Tropical diseases, while not endemic to the United Kingdom, can still be encountered now that air travel connects all parts of the globe. Malaria is a serious febrile illness due to infection of red blood cells with a parasite called Plasmodium. Presentation is very non-specific and could easily be confused with the flu or other illness.

Assessment Answers

You can check your answers to the quiz by clicking the link below:

Standby CPD Volume 8 – Assessment Answers