Evaluation of acute generalized rashes in travelers returning from Southeast Asia: A guide for clinicians in primary care settings

Abstract

Americans are travelling internationally in record numbers, and Southeast Asia is among the regions seeing the largest increase in tourism. Travelers to Southeast Asia are exposed to a wide array of diseases and medical conditions that they might otherwise not encounter at home. As such, it is imperative that clinicians working in primary care have the knowledge to both advise travelers of their potential risks as well as recognize diseases in the patient returning from travel. However, many primary care providers may not be sufficiently knowledgeable in travel medicine to confidently evaluate travel-related complaints. Missed diagnoses or improperly treated conditions in this context can lead to unnecessary morbidity and even mortality. Dermatological complaints are among the most frequent reasons that patients returning from Southeast Asia seek professional medical care. This article intends to serve as a resource for clinicians working in primary care who encounter the generalized rash in a patient recently returned from travel to Southeast Asia. It specifically explores how to evaluate these patients to arrive at the correct diagnosis, while highlighting some of the unique, must-not-miss diagnoses endemic to Southeast Asia