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Alfons Van Gompel

Publications and source records attributed to Alfons Van Gompel.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Fever after a stay in the tropics: diagnostic predictors of the leading tropical conditions.

Differential diagnosis of fever in travelers returning from the tropics is extremely diverse. Apart from the travel destination, other diagnostic predictors of tropical infections are poorly documented in returning travelers. From April 2000 to December 2005, we prospectively enrolled all patients presenting at our referral centers with fever within 1 year after visiting a tropical or subtropical area. For clinical relevance, the diagnostic predictors of the leading tropical conditions were particularly investigated in the febrile episodes occurring during travel or within 1 month after return (defined as early-onset fever). In total, 2071 fever episodes were included, occurring in 1962 patients. Most patients were western travelers (60%) or expatriates (15%). Regions of exposure were mainly sub-Saharan Africa (68%) and southern Asia/Pacific (14%). Early-onset fever accounted for 1619 episodes (78%). Most tropical infections were related to specific travel destinations. Malaria (mainly Plasmodium falciparum) was strongly predicted by the following features: enlarged spleen, thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150 x 10(3)/microL), fever without localizing symptoms, and hyperbilirubinemia (total bilirubin level >or=1.3 mg/dL). When malaria had been ruled out, main predictors were skin rash and skin ulcer for rickettsial infection (mainly African tick bite fever); skin rash, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia (leukocyte count <4 x 10(3)/microL) for dengue; eosinophil count >or=0.5 x 10(3)/microL for acute schistosomiasis; and enlarged spleen and elevated alanine aminotransferase level (>or=70 IU/L) for enteric fever. The initial clinical and laboratory assessment can help in selecting appropriate investigations and empiric treatments for patients with imported fever.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Imported non-Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a five-year prospective study in a European referral center.

From 2000 to 2005, we investigated prospectively 98 cases of imported non-Plasmodium falciparum malaria (48 Plasmodium vivax, 34 P. ovale, and 16 P. malariae). Latency period between return and clinical attack exceeded three months in 40% of the patients. It was longer in travelers who had taken chemoprophylaxis. Time to diagnosis was longer in patients with P. malariae infection and in those with late-onset first attack. Parasite density was often lower than 500/microL, especially in P. ovale malaria. Relapses were diagnosed in 18% of all malaria episodes. Eight (17%) P. vivax and 2 (6%) P. ovale malaria episodes were due to relapse despite standard primaquine therapy. Diagnosis of imported non-falciparum malaria is often challenged by long latency period and low parasite density. In addition, the substantial relapse rate despite standard primaquine therapy supports the use of a higher dose of primaquine to eradicate P. vivax and P. ovale malaria effectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Imported Katayama fever: clinical and biological features at presentation and during treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the characteristics of imported Katayama fever (acute schistosomiasis) as well as evolution and outcome under treatment. METHODS: Between April 2000 and September 2004, we included prospectively all patients with confirmed diagnosis of Katayama fever. Follow-up was maintained at least until 6 months after symptoms resolved. Praziquantel (PZQ) was given as soon as the diagnosis was probable, most of the time with steroids. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were diagnosed with Katayama fever by Schistosoma egg detection and/or by seroconversion. Clinical features were non-specific, with mainly respiratory and/or gastrointestinal symptoms. Diagnosis was confirmed at presentation in 17/23 (74%) patients, of whom 15 by serology. Immediate clinical exacerbation occurred in five of nine patients not given steroids concomitantly with PZQ. After initial resolution, fever recurred in five (22%) patients. When compiling initial and recurrent episodes (n=28), respiratory symptoms tended to occur at an earlier stage after exposure, while abdominal complaints were more frequent later. All patients were completely cured, sometimes after repeated treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical presentation of Katayama fever is non-specific and involves respiratory and abdominal symptoms. Recurrence of fever is not unusual despite anti-helminthic treatment. Optimal therapeutic strategy remains to be defined to prevent recurrence.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Etiology and outcome of fever after a stay in the tropics.

BACKGROUND: Information on epidemiology and prognosis of imported fever is scarce and almost exclusively limited to hospital settings. METHODS: From 2000 to 2005, all travelers presenting at our referral outpatient and inpatient centers with ongoing fever within 12 months after a stay in the tropics were prospectively followed. Case definitions and treatment were based on international recommendations. Outcome was assessed by at least 1 follow-up consultation or telephone call within 3 months after initial contact. RESULTS: A total of 1842 fever episodes were included, involving 1743 patients. Regions of exposure were mainly sub-Saharan Africa (68%) and the Southeast Asia-Pacific region (12%). Tropical diseases accounted for 39% of all cases and cosmopolitan infections for 34%. Diagnosis often remained unknown (24%). The pattern of tropical diseases was mainly influenced by the travel destination, with malaria (35%, mainly Plasmodium falciparum) and rickettsial infection (4%) as the leading diagnoses after a stay in Africa; dengue (12%), malaria (9%), and enteric fever (4%) after travel to Asia; and dengue (8%) and malaria (4%) on return from Latin America. Disease pattern varied also according to the category of travelers, the delay between exposure and fever onset, and the setting. Hospitalization was required for 503 fever episodes (27%). Plasmodium falciparum malaria accounted for 36% of all admissions and was the only tropical cause of death (5 of 9 patients). Fever of unknown cause had invariably a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: The clinical spectrum of imported fever is highly destination specific but also depends on other factors. Plasmodium falciparum malaria was the leading cause of mortality in the study population.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mefloquine-induced pneumonitis.

Mefloquine is indicated as oral treatment and as prophylaxis for malaria in areas where chloroquine-resistant malaria is present. Gastrointestinal and neuropsychiatric side effects of mefloquine are well known. More severe neuropsychiatric disorders such as psychosis, depression, hallucinations, and seizures are also reported in the literature. We are reporting a case of drug-induced pneumonia due to mefloquine. This diagnosis was confirmed 4 months after the adverse event, after restarting the same malaria prophylaxis, which could be considered as an unintentional provocation test. This is the third case report in the literature of acute lung injury caused by mefloquine.

Antimalarials↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Infectious mononucleosis-like syndromes in febrile travelers returning from the tropics.

Infectious mononucleosis (IM), resulting from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and IM-like syndromes, mainly due to cytomegalovirus (CMV), Toxoplasma gondii, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), have been occasionally reported in travelers returning from the tropics. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence, outcome, and diagnostic predictors of these syndromes in febrile travelers. Between April 2000 and March 2005, all febrile travelers and migrants presenting at our referral centers within 12 months after a tropical stay were prospectively included. We identified all patients serologically diagnosed with IM or IM-like syndrome and compared them with the rest of the cohort. During the 5-year period, 72/1,842 patients (4%) were diagnosed with an IM-like syndrome, including 36 CMV, 16 T gondii, 15 EBV, and 5 HIV primary infections. All patients were western travelers or expatriates. Mean delay before consultation was 2 weeks. Most patients had consulted other practitioners and/or received presumptive treatment. A minority of patients presented with IM clinical features. Lymphocytosis > or =40% of the white blood cells (WBC) and reactive/atypical lymphocyte morphology were observed in 60 and 30% of the patients. The four diseases were indistinguishable. Protracted fever and asthenia were common but complications rarely occurred. IM-like syndromes were independently associated with fever >7 days, lymphadenopathy, elevated liver enzymes, and lymphocytosis > or =40% of WBC. Diagnostic probability increased to >20% if at least three of these predictors were present. Diagnosis of IM and IM-like syndrome is not uncommon in febrile travelers, with a higher proportion of primary CMV, T gondii, and HIV infections than in nonimported series. Consequently, classic IM clinical and laboratory features are often lacking. All four pathogens should be systematically considered because early diagnosis should avoid unnecessary investigations and treatment and allow early intervention in case of primary HIV infection.

Adult↗