In this prospective study conducted by 9 Public Health Offices in North Rhine Westphalia 1992 to 1994, among the analysed 4058 asylum seekers aged 1-89 years the chest radiographs showed in 444 cases old specific changes and in 48 cases active tuberculosis. This was verified microbiologically. 81% of the evaluated tuberculin skin test were positive with variations between the different countries of origin, which is significantly higher than among persons born in the Fed. Rep. of Germany. A compulsory chest radiograph shortly after arrival and controlled curative or preventive chemotherapy programmes are urgently needed.

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refugee mass screening human Refugees middle aged statistics Aged Cross-Sectional Studies cross-sectional study Humans Mass Chest X-Ray lung tuberculosis Adolescent male Tuberculosis, Pulmonary preschool child Aged, 80 and over Infant Child, Preschool female Incidence Article tuberculin test adult thorax radiography Child