International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
Volume 14, Issue 12, 2010, Pages 1530-1537

Pediatric tuberculosis immigration screening in high-immigration, low-incidence countries (Article)

Alvarez G.G. , Clark M. , Altpeter E. , Douglas P. , Jones J. , Paty M.-C. , Posey D.L. , Chemtob D.
  • a Divisions of Respirology and Infectious Diseases, University of Ottawa at the Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa Health Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • b Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
  • c Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, Bern, Switzerland
  • d Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • e Travel and Migrant Health Section for Infections, London, United Kingdom
  • f Direction Générale de la Santé, Sous-direction de Prévention des Risques Infectieux, Paris, France
  • g Immigrant, Refugee and Migrant Health Branch, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • h Department of Tuberculosis and AIDS, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) screening in migrant children, including immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, is an ongoing challenge in low TB incidence countries. Many children from high TB incidence countries harbor latent TB infection (LTBI), and some have active TB disease at the point of immigration into host nations. Young children who harbor LTBI have a high risk of progression to TB disease and are at a higher risk than adults of developing disseminated severe forms of TB with significant morbidity and mortality. Many countries have developed immigration TB screening programs to suit the needs of adults, but have not focused much attention on migrant children. OBJECTIVE: To compare the TB immigration medical examination requirements in children in selected countries with high immigration and low TB incidence rates. DESIGN: Descriptive study of TB immigration screening programs for systematically selected countries. RESULTS: Of 18 eligible countries, 16 responded to the written survey and telephone interview. CONCLUSION: No two countries had the same approach to TB screening among migrant children. The optimal evidenced-based manner in which to screen migrant children requires further research. © 2010 The Union.

Author Keywords

Screening Immigration tuberculosis Children

Index Keywords

mass screening medical examination immigration priority journal pediatrics screening Humans Adolescent latent tuberculosis tuberculosis Child, Preschool sputum analysis Evidence-Based Medicine BCG vaccination gamma interferon high risk population Article tuberculin test thorax radiography Age Factors Emigration and Immigration Data Collection Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78649372679&partnerID=40&md5=17ca1dac3c026c59d5be2c941444e4c9
ISSN: 10273719
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English