Choi Soo Han, Kim Yae Jean, Shin Ji Hun, Yoo Keon Hee, Sung Ki Woong, Koo Hong Hoe
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Korean J Pediatr. 2010 Jun;53(6):701-4. doi: 10.3345/kjp.2010.53.6.701. Epub 2010 Jun 23.
Dengue fever occurs in many popular tourist destinations and is increasingly imported by returning travelers in Korea. Since Korea is not an endemic country for dengue fever, pediatricians do not usually suspect dengue fever in febrile children even with typical presentation and exposure history. This study was performed to describe the international travel experiences and dengue fever in Korean children.
Travel histories were collected based on questionnaires completed by all patients' guardians who visited the pediatric infectious diseases clinic at Samsung Medical Center from January 2008 to December 2008. For patients who were suspected of dengue fever, a serological test was performed.
Five hundred and seventeen children visited the pediatric infectious diseases clinic for the first time during this period. About 30% of patients who responded to the questionnaire (101/339) had experienced international travel within the last 2 years. Four patients were diagnosed with dengue fever by serological test.
Increasing numbers of Korean children visit dengue endemic areas and they may return home with dengue fever. Dengue fever should be suspected in patients who have a travel history to endemic areas.
登革热在许多热门旅游目的地都有发生，在韩国，越来越多的归国旅行者将其带回国内。由于韩国并非登革热的流行国家，儿科医生通常不会在发热儿童中怀疑登革热，即使他们有典型的症状表现和暴露史。本研究旨在描述韩国儿童的国际旅行经历及登革热情况。
根据2008年1月至2008年12月期间在三星医疗中心儿科传染病诊所就诊的所有患者监护人填写的问卷收集旅行史。对于疑似登革热的患者，进行了血清学检测。
在此期间，517名儿童首次到儿科传染病诊所就诊。对问卷做出回应的患者中约30%（101/339）在过去2年内有过国际旅行经历。4名患者通过血清学检测被诊断为登革热。
越来越多的韩国儿童前往登革热流行地区，他们可能会带着登革热回国。对于有前往流行地区旅行史的患者，应怀疑其感染登革热。
