{"title":"Prevalence of health problems related to marine tourism among travelers in the Andaman Coast provinces of Southern Thailand","authors":"Vitat Tipphayawong , Pat Chantapinya , Ranida Techasuwanna , Amornphat Kitro","doi":"10.1016/j.tmaid.2025.102913","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Marine tourism is increasing in popularity in Thailand, contributing to a rise in associated medical issues. The aim of this report was to assess the prevalence and severity of marine-related health problems and associated risk factors.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective study was conducted from October 2021 to September 2024 across three healthcare centers in southern Thailand.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>520 cases were analyzed, 57 % (n = 295) were male and 93.7 % (n = 487) were international travelers, 62.7 % (n = 326) from Europe. Common diagnoses included marine envenomation (24.0 %, n = 125), ear infection (21.7 %, n = 113), and trauma (18.7 %, n = 97). Most health incidents occurred coastal areas (46.7 %, n = 243). 29.0 % (n = 151) visited emergency department and 6.0 % (n = 31) resulted in death. Severe outcomes were associated with male gender, age over 40 years, and sea-based activities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Most marine-related health issues were non-severe, specific risks varied by location, highlighting the need for location-specific preventive measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23312,"journal":{"name":"Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease","volume":"67 ","pages":"Article 102913"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S147789392500119X","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Marine tourism is increasing in popularity in Thailand, contributing to a rise in associated medical issues. The aim of this report was to assess the prevalence and severity of marine-related health problems and associated risk factors.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted from October 2021 to September 2024 across three healthcare centers in southern Thailand.
Results
520 cases were analyzed, 57 % (n = 295) were male and 93.7 % (n = 487) were international travelers, 62.7 % (n = 326) from Europe. Common diagnoses included marine envenomation (24.0 %, n = 125), ear infection (21.7 %, n = 113), and trauma (18.7 %, n = 97). Most health incidents occurred coastal areas (46.7 %, n = 243). 29.0 % (n = 151) visited emergency department and 6.0 % (n = 31) resulted in death. Severe outcomes were associated with male gender, age over 40 years, and sea-based activities.
Conclusion
Most marine-related health issues were non-severe, specific risks varied by location, highlighting the need for location-specific preventive measures.
期刊介绍:
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
Publication Scope:
Publishes original papers, reviews, and consensus papers
Primary theme: infectious disease in the context of travel medicine
Focus Areas:
Epidemiology and surveillance of travel-related illness
Prevention and treatment of travel-associated infections
Malaria prevention and treatment
Travellers' diarrhoea
Infections associated with mass gatherings
Migration-related infections
Vaccines and vaccine-preventable disease
Global policy/regulations for disease prevention and control
Practical clinical issues for travel and tropical medicine practitioners
Coverage:
Addresses areas of controversy and debate in travel medicine
Aims to inform guidelines and policy pertinent to travel medicine and the prevention of infectious disease
Publication Features:
Offers a fast peer-review process
Provides early online publication of accepted manuscripts
Aims to publish cutting-edge papers