Revista Espanola de Salud Publica
Volume 78, Issue 5, 2004, Pages 593-600

Prevalence of tuberculosis infection among immigrants in the Toledo Health District, Spain [Prevalencia de infección tuberculosa en las personas inmigrantes del Área de Salud de Toledo] (Article) (Open Access)

Alonso Moreno F.J.* , García Bajo M.C. , Lougedo Calderón M.J. , Comas Samper J.M. , García Palencia M. , López De Castro F. , Pérez Villaverde N. , Sánchez Garcia R. , Soto García M.
  • a Centro de Salud de Ocaña, Toledo, Spain, Centro de Salud, C/Villasunte, S/N, Ocana 45300 Toledo, Spain
  • b Centro de Salud de Sonseca, Toledo, Spain
  • c Centro de Salud de Ocaña, Toledo, Spain
  • d Ctro. Salud Puebla Montalban, Toledo, Spain
  • e Centro de Salud de Ocaña, Toledo, Spain
  • f U. Docente Med. Familiar/Comunitaria, Toledo, Spain
  • g Centro de Salud de Palomarejos, Toledo, Spain
  • h Centro de Salud de Los Yebenes, Toledo, Spain
  • i Centro de Salud de Mora, Toledo, Spain

Abstract

Background: The rise in the frequency of tuberculosis is due to several factors: resistance to treatment, human immunodeficiency virus infection, unemployment, poverty and migratory movements. This study is aimed at ascertaining the prevalence of tuberculosis infection among the immigrant population in the Toledo Health District. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional, multi-center study conducted at the Primary Care level. The immigrants were attracted and recruited on the based of their health cards within the December 2002-September 2003 period. Mantoux intradermal reaction test was perfonned with 0.1 ml (2UT) of PPD RT-23, following informed consent. Other variables were collected: age, sex, weight, country of origin, work situation, BCG vaccination, number of individuals living with them, length of time residing in Europe. Results: A total of 344 immigrants were included in the study, averaging 28.8 ± 12.7 years of age. Fifty percent were females (172). They had been living in Europe for an average of 3.4 ± 3.7 years. A total 78:8% (271) of the immigrants completed the study. The intradermal reaction was positive in 75 of them 127.7% (CI 95%: 23.-32.5)l. Those immigrants showing a positive Mantoux were older (age 32.5 ± 8.5 years) than those showing a negative result (age 27.7 ± 13.8 years), p=0.006. Originally being from the sub-Saharan area increased the probability of showing a positive intradermal reaction. Conclusions: The immigrant population of the Toledo Health District shows a high prevalence of tuberculosis infection, which is higher than the general Spanish population. Differences exist depending upon the country of origin. These results indicate the importance of considering the Mantoux test among the preventive activities addressed toward this immigrant population.

Author Keywords

Immigration tuberculosis Primary health care

Index Keywords

male age Spain female major clinical study tuberculosis immigrant primary medical care Africa south of the Sahara adult prevalence demography Article human tuberculin test Adolescent Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-5444228755&doi=10.1590%2fS1135-57272004000500004&partnerID=40&md5=d38f515161cb9b9f14e5e6a6a7f3d803
DOI: 10.1590/S1135-57272004000500004
ISSN: 11355727
Cited by: 11
Original Language: Spanish