Public Health Reports
Volume 117, Issue 1, 2002, Pages 69-77

Prevalence of tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus, and intestinal parasitic infections among refugees to Minnesota (Article)

Lifson A.R.* , Thai D. , O'Fallon A. , Mills W.A. , Hang K.
  • a Refugee Health Program, Acute Disease Prevention Services Section, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States, Div. of Infectious Diseases, Dept. of Medicine, Univ. of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St., Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
  • b Refugee Health Program, Acute Disease Prevention Services Section, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • c Refugee Health Program, Acute Disease Prevention Services Section, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • d Tuberculosis Program, Acute Disease Epidemiology Section, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • e Refugee Health Program, Acute Disease Prevention Services Section, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to define the prevalence of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus, and various intestinal parasites among different groups of primary refugees immigrating to Minnesota. Methods. 2,545 refugees arriving in Minnesota during 1999 received a domestic health examination that included tuberculin skin testing, hepatitis B virus serologic testing, and stool ova and parasite examinations. The Refugee Health Assessment form asked specifically about screening results for amebiasis, ascariasis, clonorchiasis, giardiasis, hookworm, schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and trichuriasis. Results. Forty-nine percent of refugees had a reactive tuberculin test of ≥10 mm induration, with a higher prevalence in males (54%) and refugees ≥18 years of age (63%) (p<0.001). Seven percent had a positive hepatitis B surface antigen, with the highest prevalence in those people from sub-Saharan Africa (8%) (p=0.002) and those refugees ≥18 years of age (9%) (p=0.006). Twenty-two percent had one or more intestinal parasites asked about, including 30% of those refugees <18 years of age (p<0.001). The most commonly reported parasitic infections were trichuriasis (8%) and giardiasis (7%). Conclusions. Evidence of infection with M. tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus, or one of eight intestinal parasites was present in a substantial proportion of refugees receiving the domestic health assessment. Screening for such infections gives new immigrants the opportunity to receive important medical evaluation and treatment, provides valuable surveillance data, and allows appropriate public health measures to be taken.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

immigrant parasitosis refugee human sex difference feces analysis giardiasis Mycobacterium tuberculosis priority journal Aged Hepatitis B virus screening United States Adolescent male female tuberculosis Infant newborn Africa serodiagnosis prevalence Article major clinical study tuberculin test adult age trichuriasis intestine infection hepatitis B surface antigen hepatitis B intestine parasite Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0036398670&doi=10.1016%2fS0033-3549%2804%2950110-3&partnerID=40&md5=83639e4e167b228f3f638d17e024b7e4
DOI: 10.1016/S0033-3549(04)50110-3
ISSN: 00333549
Cited by: 83
Original Language: English