Infectious diseases in immigrants from the perspective of a tropical medicine referral unit

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003 Jul;69(1):115-21.

Abstract

Immigrants from less developed countries to Europe are growing in number and could contribute to the emergence of some infectious diseases. To address this issue, we conducted a descriptive study of 988 immigrants, of whom 79.9% were sub-Saharan Africans and 72% were of undocumented origin. Fever, pruritus, eosinophilia, visceromegaly, and anemia were more frequent in Africans, while a cough was more common Latin Americans (P < 0.005). The most frequent diagnoses were previous hepatitis B (46.5%), latent tuberculosis (44.2%), filariasis (24.8%), infection with intestinal helminths (15.4%), malaria (15.1%), infection with intestinal protozoa (10%), hepatitis C (8.8%), other non-parasitic infections (7.8%), active hepatitis B (7.6%), sexually transmitted diseases (7.5%), active tuberculosis (5.8%), and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (5.2%). Past and active hepatitis B and C, active tuberculosis, infection with HIV, malaria, and filariasis were more frequent in Africans (P < 0.005). Thirty-two other tropical diseases were also diagnosed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Communicable Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Emigration and Immigration / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Parasitic Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Travel
  • Tropical Medicine / statistics & numerical data*