Travel fever and nausea

Travel fever and nausea in Berlin — when it is harmless and when it is serious

Berlin is a hub for international travel — hotels in Mitte, Charlottenburg and near Potsdamer Platz host guests from across the globe every day, many with recent stops in sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America. Fever after tropical travel is never trivial. The central differential is malaria — for any fever after a stay in an endemic area within the previous twelve months we have to actively rule it out. Other key diagnoses are dengue, typhoid, viral haemorrhagic fevers, bacterial traveller's diarrhoea, hepatitis A and acute HIV infection.

On the house call we take time for the travel history: where exactly, when, how long, which activities, vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis, insect bites, meals, freshwater contact, sexual contacts? These details determine which diseases are in play and which tests to prioritise. With suspected malaria or another time-critical infection we direct you immediately to a tropical medicine hospital — in Berlin, the Charité Campus Virchow or the BIH.

What happens during the house call

We measure temperature, pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation, examine the abdomen, liver, skin and mucous membranes. We check for petechiae, jaundice, lymph node enlargement. We use rapid tests (influenza, COVID-19, strep), and with clear suspicion a dengue or malaria rapid test where available. For pure traveller's diarrhoea without tropical risk we prescribe electrolyte solution, loperamide carefully and, with clear bacterial picture, a targeted antibiotic — usually azithromycin or ciprofloxacin. For nausea and vomiting we administer antiemetics and, if needed, IV fluids. For any unclear fever after tropical travel we arrange prompt tropical-medicine review.

Why triage to hospital is sometimes the right decision

Not every travel fever can be worked up at home. Reliable malaria diagnostics require repeated blood films and rapid tests, often with inpatient observation. With suspected dengue with warning signs, acute hepatitis or bacterial sepsis, hospital is simply the better venue. We are not afraid to say so — the house call is a powerful format, but it has limits, and travel fever is one of the patterns where hospital is sometimes the right call.

How the house call works

On first contact we ask about the route, duration, symptoms and accompanying factors. With signs of malaria, dengue with warning signs or severe sepsis we direct you straight to a tropical medicine hospital. Otherwise we dispatch the next available specialist — typically a 60- to 90-minute arrival.

On site we take the detailed travel history, examine you and run rapid tests. We treat symptomatically, organise hospital admission with prior briefing where needed and prepare a written report to hand over.

Billing and insurance

We bill according to the German private medical fee schedule (GOÄ) via our Privatärztliche Verrechnungsstelle. House call, detailed travel-medicine history, physical examination, rapid tests, IV fluids and administered medication are itemised separately. Travel health insurers typically reimburse these positions in full.

We can issue the invoice in English or with an English translation of the diagnosis and therapy on request. We remain reachable by phone for billing questions after the visit.