Travel diseases—Danger of infections in the era of globalization

Abstract

Travelling with chronic diseases is no longer unusual. More and more chronically ill people are embarking on long-distance trips, sometimes under thoroughly adventurous conditions. Tour operators have long adapted to this need and are constantly offering new destinations. The experiences of the last decades have led to a considerable increase in safety standards and care for travelers. Today, an averagely mobile person can travel to almost any destination in the world. Nevertheless, the more relevant chronic illnesses are, the greater the health risks of a trip. Particularly due to reduced body defenses, infectious diseases pose an increased health risk during long-distance travel. In this overview, exemplary diseases are discussed.