Search

During the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we conducted surveillance of illnesses among travelers at six Beijing clinics. Surveys asked about demographic, pre-travel, and vaccination information, and physician-provided diagnoses. Of 807 respondents, 38% and 57% were classified as foreign visitors (FV) and expatriates, respectively. Less than one-half of FV sought pre-travel advice; sources included health-care providers and friends/family. FV vaccination rate was also low; however, most vaccines given were recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common FV diagnoses were respiratory, injury/musculoskeletal, and gastrointestinal illnesses; for expatriates, injury/musculoskeletal, respiratory, and dermatologic were the most common illnesses. Respiratory illnesses in expatriates were significantly less in 2008 than during 2004-2007 (chi(2) = 10.2; P = 0.0014), suggesting that control programs may have reduced pollutants/respiratory irritants during the 2008 Games. We found no previous studies of health outcomes among expatriates living in cities with mass travel events. These findings highlight the need to continuously disseminate information to health-care providers advising travelers.

Iopamidol (Jopamiron 200) is a new water-soluble, non-ionic contrast medium for myelography, which recommends itself for reasons of safety, diagnostic effectiveness, economy and convenience. It has been used in a small series of 185 patients in doses of 10-15 ml and found to be highly satisfactory for myelography of the lumbosacral, thoracic and cervical regions.

Metrizamide (Amipaque; Winthrop) has provided consistently reliable diagnostic results in a small series of 150 myelograms. It is an acceptable diagnostic alternative to Dimer-X for myelography of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical segments. It is also safer but expensive, and its use requires modification of technique. The distressing headache which often follows lumbar puncture appears to be unavoidable.