Fever in the returning traveller

### What you need to know ### Sources and selection criteria We searched the Medline database (1994–2017) using the terms “fever,” “travel,” and “travel medicine.” The search was limited to English language articles. Given the absence of randomised controlled trials in this field, we focused on observational studies in adult travellers (>16 years). Studies of infection in endemic populations were excluded. Appropriate publications were selected from the abstract list by two authors, with additional relevant articles included from their references. We have reviewed guidelines from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health England, and the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and have compiled key recommendations from these. International travel is increasingly common. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation estimates that by 2030, nearly 2 billion people will travel internationally each year, most of them to emerging economies.1 In the UK alone, there were more than 70 million visits abroad by UK residents in 2016, and 37 million overseas residents visiting the UK.2 Illness associated with travel is common (box 1). Most infections are mild or self limiting, however their non-specific presentations make them challenging to distinguish from life threatening infections such as malaria.17 Box 1 ### How common is fever in the returning traveller?RETURN TO TEXT