American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 94, Issue 4, 2016, Pages 750-756

Infectious diseases in sub-Saharan immigrants to Spain (Article) (Open Access)

Delcor N.S.* , Maruri B.T. , Arandes A.S. , Guiu I.C. , Essadik H.O. , Soley M.E. , Romero I.M. , Ascaso C.
  • a Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, (PROSICS), Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Institut Català de la Salut, Avinguda Drassanes 17-21, Barcelona, 08001, Spain
  • b Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, (PROSICS), Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Institut Català de la Salut, Avinguda Drassanes 17-21, Barcelona, 08001, Spain
  • c Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, (PROSICS), Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Institut Català de la Salut, Avinguda Drassanes 17-21, Barcelona, 08001, Spain
  • d Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, (PROSICS), Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Institut Català de la Salut, Avinguda Drassanes 17-21, Barcelona, 08001, Spain
  • e Tropical Medicine and International Health Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, (PROSICS), Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Institut Català de la Salut, Avinguda Drassanes 17-21, Barcelona, 08001, Spain
  • f Microbiology Department, (PROSICS), Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
  • g Infectious Diseases Department, (PROSICS), Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
  • h Public Health Department, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Immigrants may be carriers of infectious diseases because of the prevalence of these diseases in their country of origin, exposure during migration, or conditions during resettlement, with this prevalence being particularly high in sub-Saharan Africans. We performed a retrospective review of 180 sub-Saharan immigrants screened for infectious diseases at an International Health Center from January 2009 to December 2012. At least one pathogenic infectious disease was diagnosed in 72.8% patients: 60.6% latent tuberculosis infection, 36.8% intestinal parasites (intestinal protozoa or helminths), 28.1% helminths, 14.8% hepatitis B surface antigen positive, 1.2% anti-hepatitis C virus positive, 1.2% human immunodeficiency virus-positive, and 1.2% malaria. Coinfections were present in 28.4%. There was significant association between eosinophilia (absolute count or percentage) or hyper-IgE and the presence of helminths (P < 0.001). Relative eosinophilia and hyper-IgE were better indicators of helminth infection than absolute eosinophilia, particularly for schistosomiasis and strongyloidiasis. We found a high prevalence of infectious diseases in sub-Saharan immigrants, which could lead to severe health problems (in the absence of prompt treatment), representing a high cost to the public health system and possible transmission in the host country. Accurate screening and tailored protocols for infectious diseases are recommended in sub-Saharan immigrants. © Copyright 2016 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

filariasis Strongyloidiasis immigrant Eosinophilia Africa south of the Sahara human Communicable Diseases middle aged statistics and numerical data controlled study Malaria Hepatitis C virus comparative study ethnology Human immunodeficiency virus Young Adult Humans migrant Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants latent tuberculosis Spain female observational study Syphilis prevalence Article Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult schistosomiasis Malaria, Falciparum helminthiasis Plasmodium falciparum Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic hepatitis B surface antigen infection retrospective study hepatitis B intestine parasite hepatitis C Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84963682748&doi=10.4269%2fajtmh.15-0583&partnerID=40&md5=3619844438ec6ce2a80bd33095331e7f
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0583
ISSN: 00029637
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English