Immigrants and refugees are susceptible to a wide array of pulmonary diseases, including familiar infections that are acquired after entry and unusual infections that are imported from abroad. The challenges are great; tuberculosis (TB) is now 13 times more prevalent among immigrants than among the general US population. Melioidosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, and paragonimiasis are often mistaken for TB. Pulmonary disease caused by parasites is uncommon and particularly perplexing unless a peripheral blood eosin ophilia suggests helminthic infection. TB, melioidosis, fungal infections, and strongyloidiasis may remain inapparent for years and then produce devastating illness in the setting of immunosuppressive therapy or the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Proper health care of immigrants requires an understanding of unusual exposures and infections and should include preventive measures as well. © 1991.

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Strongyloidiasis differential diagnosis immigrant refugee Respiratory Tract Infections histoplasmosis clinical feature lung infection human Lung Diseases, Parasitic Refugees south american blastomycosis coccidioidomycosis Opportunistic Infections melioidosis visceral larva migrans syndrome Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome United States lung tuberculosis Loeffler pneumonia amebiasis echinococcosis Tuberculosis, Pulmonary paragonimiasis Review adult schistosomiasis Lung Diseases, Fungal Emigration and Immigration trichinosis acquired immune deficiency syndrome Child