Engström Kajsa L, Mills Jane, McBride William J H, Johansson Caroline M
School of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Aust J Prim Health. 2012;18(2):166-71. doi: 10.1071/PY11039.
In north Queensland, recurring epidemics of dengue fever are a public health concern. Each epidemic is initiated by an index case: an infected person arriving from an endemic country or region with dengue activity who then transmits the disease to local mosquitoes. A timely diagnosis of dengue in an index case and notification to public health services is essential to prevent epidemics. This qualitative study explores north Queensland general practitioners' experiences and patterns of treatment of febrile travellers. Individual, semi-structured interviews with 50 general practitioners working in north Queensland were conducted. Analysis of the data resulted in four themes for discussion: characteristics of febrile travellers presenting to local general practitioners, the cost of pathology tests as a barrier to diagnosis, appropriate pathology testing, and notifying tropical public health services. Recommendations from this study point to a need for ongoing education and training for general practitioners in best practice with regards pathology testing for suspected dengue fever cases. As well, there is a need to provide clearer guidelines to general practitioners on when to notify tropical public health services of suspicious diagnoses of dengue.
在昆士兰北部，登革热疫情反复爆发，成为公共卫生问题。每次疫情都由首例病例引发：一名来自登革热流行国家或地区的感染者抵达当地，随后将疾病传播给当地蚊子。及时诊断首例病例中的登革热并通知公共卫生服务机构对于预防疫情至关重要。这项定性研究探讨了昆士兰北部全科医生对发热旅行者的治疗经验和模式。对昆士兰北部50名全科医生进行了个人半结构化访谈。数据分析得出四个讨论主题：到当地全科医生处就诊的发热旅行者的特征、病理检查费用对诊断的阻碍、适当的病理检查以及通知热带公共卫生服务机构。本研究的建议指出，需要对全科医生进行持续教育和培训，使其掌握疑似登革热病例病理检查的最佳做法。此外，还需要向全科医生提供更明确的指导方针，说明何时应将登革热可疑诊断通知热带公共卫生服务机构。
