The Medical clinics of North America
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The differential diagnosis of a febrile illness in the returned traveler is extensive. The most commonly encountered tropical infections are malaria, dysentery, hepatitis, and dengue fever; a substantial number of febrile illnesses are never diagnosed. ⋯ The ability to recognize and manage tropical diseases in travelers is essential because the morbidity and mortality of these infections are often preventable with prompt therapy. When expertise in this area is lacking, febrile returned travelers should be referred to a tropical disease unit or an infectious disease consultant for urgent assessment.