Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiologia Clinica
Volume 35, Issue 1, 2017, Pages 27-32

Screening for parasite infections in immigrant children from low-income countries [Detección de infecciones parasitarias en menores inmigrantes procedentes de países en vías de desarrollo] (Article)

Belhassen-García M.* , Pardo-Lledías J. , Pérez del Villar L. , Velasco-Tirado V. , Siller Ruiz M. , Cordero-Sánchez M. , Vicente B. , Hernández Egido S. , Muñoz Bellido J.L. , Muro A.
  • a Servicio de Medicina Interna, Sección de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca (CAUSA), Instituto de investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Universidad de Salamanca, Paseo San Vicente 58-182, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
  • b Servicio de Medicina Interna, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Palencia (CAUPA), Palencia, Spain
  • c CIETUS, IBSAL, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
  • d Servicio de Medicina Interna, CAUSA, CIETUS, IBSAL, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
  • e Servicio de Microbiología, CAUSA, CIETUS, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
  • f Servicio de Medicina Interna, Sección de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca (CAUSA), Instituto de investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Universidad de Salamanca, Paseo San Vicente 58-182, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
  • g Laboratorio de Inmunología Parasitaria y Molecular, CIETUS, IBSAL, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
  • h Servicio de Microbiología, CAUSA, CIETUS, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
  • i Servicio de Microbiología, CAUSA, CIETUS, IBSAL, Grupo de Investigación Reconocido MICRAPE, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas y del Diagnóstico, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
  • j Laboratorio de Inmunología Parasitaria y Molecular, CIETUS, IBSAL, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

Abstract

Introduction In Spain, minors represent approximately 20% of the immigration flow. Many of these immigrants come from countries in the tropics and sub-tropics where intestinal parasitic infections caused by helminths and protozoa are one of the major causes of human disease. The main objective of the present work was to describe parasite infections in a group of immigrant children. Methods A prospective evaluation was performed in 373 minors from Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and Latin America. Details were collected from the medical records and physical examination. Urine, stool and peripheral blood samples were obtained for serological and routine laboratory tests. Direct and indirect parasitological tests were also performed. Results At least 1 parasitic disease was diagnosed in 176 (47.1%) immigrant children, while 77 (20.6%) minors were infected with two or more parasites. The number of parasites was highest in children from Sub-Saharan Africa compared with the rest of the areas of origin (p < .001), and in children from urban areas compared with those from rural areas (OR 1.27 [1.059–1.552], p = .011). The most frequent causes of multiple parasite infection were filariasis plus strongyloidiasis and filariasis plus schistosomiasis. Intestinal parasite infection was diagnosed in 38 cases (13.8%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that for each month of stay, the probability of a positive finding in the stool sample decreased by 0.02% [β = −0.020, (p = .07)]. Conclusions The high infection rates of parasite diseases in immigrant children point to the need for screening protocols for certain infectious diseases in these children according to their country of origin and their length of residence in Spain. © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica

Author Keywords

immigrants child parasite Helminth infection Imported infections

Index Keywords

blood sampling filariasis urban area Strongyloidiasis prospective study immigrant rural area South and Central America parasitosis Africa south of the Sahara Latin America mass screening poverty parasite identification Prospective Studies human feces analysis controlled study comparative study urine sampling screening test ethnology laboratory test school child migrant Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Spain female Africa Article major clinical study Africa, Northern schistosomiasis serology North Africa intestine infection Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic low income country Physical Examination intestine parasite Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84964875141&doi=10.1016%2fj.eimc.2016.03.007&partnerID=40&md5=1125c33e5c417b3f068f056d007070c4
DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2016.03.007
ISSN: 0213005X
Original Language: English; Spanish