Abstract
Introduction. Estimate the efficacy of oral anticholeric vaccine Dukoral® in subjects travelling to high-risk areas for traveler?s diarrhoea and cholera.
Methods. The study involved subjects of both genders who planned to travel to high-risk areas for traveler?s diarrhoea and cholera. Immunization with oral anticholeric vaccine Dukoral® was offered to each one of them. Upon returning, all the participants in the study were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 40 close-ended questions mainly concerning: personal and health data, characteristics (length, destination, reason) of the travel, onset of gastrointestinal symptoms, data relating to the assumption of anti- choleric vaccine and possible adverse reactions.
Results. 296 questionnaires have been collected. Mean age was 38.2 years (55.4% males and 44.6% females). Mean travel length was 22.2 days. Reasons for the travel: 66.8% tourism and 33.2% work-cooperation. Most frequent destination was Africa (48.1%), followed by Asia (32.1%) and Central South- America (17.8%). 199 subjects (67.2%) properly executed vac- cination with Dukoral®. The diarrhoea affected 14.1% of vacci- nated subjects and 20.6% of non vaccinated ones. The following cohorts showed statistically significant differences in incidence of diarrhoea: inf. 35 years old age (13.7% vs. 27.1%), travel for work-cooperation (14.1% vs. 35%) and travel length > 28 days (12.1% vs. 40%). No serious adverse events were reported fol- lowing vaccination.
Discussion. Oral Anticholeric vaccine proved to be effective and safe in preventing fecal-oral diseases in travelers exposed to high risk conditions.
