Investigating fever in the returning tropical traveller

Abstract

Globalisation has led to increased international travel for work, leisure, and to visit friends and relatives in a country of origin; this has led to greater exposure to tropical infectious agents. Many serious tropical infections encountered in primary care in the UK present as fever in a returning traveller. GPs must recognise potentially serious causes of fever in this population to ensure patients receive timely treatment. This article aims to provide a suitable framework for safe assessment, investigation and management of a patient with fever following international travel.