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M K R K, A S L, A R, S Q, P S. Diagnoses of infectious diseases among Norwegian-born children to immigrant parents - the role of parental socioeconomic position. Scand J Public Health 2022:14034948221082455. [PMID: 35365047 DOI: 10.1177/14034948221082455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Children of immigrants have a higher incidence of infectious disease than native children. Our aim was to assess the role of parental socioeconomic position for diagnoses of infectious disease among children of immigrants. METHODS Data from the Norwegian Patient Registry (on diagnoses from secondary/tertiary care), Medical Birth Registry of Norway, and Statistics Norway were linked by the national personal identification number. Seven diagnostic infection categories were included from 2008 onwards. The study population included children born in Norway aged 0-10 years between 2008 and 2018 (N = 988,647). Hazards of infection diagnoses by parental region of origin (adjusted for sex, birth year, parental education, household income and mother's parity) and by parental education and household income were assessed by Cox regression. RESULTS High parental education was associated with lower hazard of infection diagnoses among children of Norwegian-born parents, but associations were less consistent among children with immigrant parents. Lower household income was related to hazard of most infectious diagnoses among children with both Norwegian-born and immigrant parents. Assessed by region diagnoses of viral and bacterial infections and infections of the musculoskeletal system and soft tissue were not associated with household income. Parental education and household income did not explain differences in hazard of infection diagnoses between children born to immigrant versus Norwegian-born parents. CONCLUSIONS Socioeconomic disadvantage did not explain differences in hazard of being diagnosed with infectious disease in secondary/tertiary care between children with immigrant versus Norwegian-born parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kjøllesdal M K R
- Division of Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
- Department of Public Health Science, Faculty of Landscape and Society, Norwegian University of Lifesciences, Norway
| | - Labberton A S
- Division of Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Reneflot A
- Division of Physical and Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Qureshi S
- Division of Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
| | - Surén P
- Division of Physical and Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
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Bustamante J, Sainz T, Montojo FA, Almirón MD, Subirats M, Vega DM, Mellado MJ, López-Hortelano MG. Screening for parasites in migrant children. Travel Med Infect Dis 2022; 47:102287. [PMID: 35304329 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globalization has pushed population movements in the last decades, turning imported diseases into the focus. Due to behavioral habits, children are at higher risk of acquiring iparasitosis. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of parasites in migrant children and factors associated with parasitic diseases. METHOD Retrospective cross-sectional study (2014-2018) including children diagnosed with parasitosis. The diagnosis was based on serology and/or microscopic stool-sample evaluation. Epidemiological and clinical data were recorded. RESULTS Out of 813 migrant children screened, 241 (29.6%) presented at least one parasite, and 89 (10.9%) more than one. The median age was 6.6 years (IQR: 3.1-11.9) and 58.9% were males. Most cases were referred for a health exam; only 52.3% of children were symptomatic, but 43.6% had eosinophilia. The most common diagnosis were giardiasis (35.3%), schistosomiasis (19.1%), toxocariasis (15.4%), and strongyloidiasis (9.1%). After the multivariate analysis, African origin and presenting with eosinophilia were the main risk factors for parasitism. CONCLUSIONS parasitosis are frequent among migrant children. Children are often asymptomatic, and thus active screening for parasitosis should be considered among high-risk populations. Eosinophilia can be useful to guide complimentary tests, as well as geographical origin, but normal eosinophil count does not exclude parasitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Bustamante
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital General de Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real, Spain; La Paz Research Institute (IdiPAZ) Madrid, Spain; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Spain
| | - Talía Sainz
- La Paz Research Institute (IdiPAZ) Madrid, Spain; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Spain; General Pediatrics and Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain; Red de Investigación Traslacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP), Spain.
| | - Fátima Ara Montojo
- La Paz Research Institute (IdiPAZ) Madrid, Spain; General Pediatrics Department, Hospital de Quiron, Pozuelo, Spain
| | - Mariana Díaz Almirón
- La Paz Research Institute (IdiPAZ) Madrid, Spain; Biostatistics Department, La Paz University Hospital, Spain
| | - Mercedes Subirats
- La Paz Research Institute (IdiPAZ) Madrid, Spain; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Hospital La Paz Madrid, Spain
| | - Dolores Montero Vega
- La Paz Research Institute (IdiPAZ) Madrid, Spain; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Hospital La Paz Madrid, Spain
| | - María José Mellado
- La Paz Research Institute (IdiPAZ) Madrid, Spain; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Spain; General Pediatrics and Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain; Red de Investigación Traslacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP), Spain
| | - Milagros García López-Hortelano
- La Paz Research Institute (IdiPAZ) Madrid, Spain; General Pediatrics and Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain; Red de Investigación Traslacional en Infectología Pediátrica (RITIP), Spain
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Eosinophilia in Migrant Children: How Should We Proceed? Pediatr Infect Dis J 2022; 41:102-107. [PMID: 34890375 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnostic approach to eosinophilia is complex, given the numerous reported etiologies. Intestinal parasites (especially helminths) are a concern in children from high-burden settings. We describe the diagnostic approach and clinical management of eosinophilia in a cohort of migrant children. METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study that included children diagnosed with eosinophilia at a reference center for pediatric tropical diseases from 2014 to 2018. All patients were screened according to a unified protocol, including direct microbiologic and serologic tests. RESULTS A total of 163 children presented with eosinophilia during the study period [median age, 7.7 years (4.1-12.2); 57.1% boys], mostly from Asia (27.6%) and South America (22.1%). Most were internationally adopted children (43.6%) or migrants (26.4%). Only 34.4% of the children were symptomatic, and the main etiology for eosinophilia was helminths (56.4%). After a sequential diagnostic approach, no etiology was found for 40.5% of the patients. The independent risk factors for an unexplained etiology were younger age (≤2 years: odds ratio, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-10.2; P = 0.015), absence of symptoms (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.8-12.5; P = 0.001) and mild eosinophilia (<1000/µL: odds ratio, 4.2; 95% CI, 4.5-11.7; P = 0.005). Only 6 children were treated empirically. In those children with an identified cause and in those treated empirically, the eosinophilia resolved in 52% in a median of 7 months (5-9). CONCLUSIONS Helminths are the main cause of eosinophilia in migrant children and need to be hunted, especially in older children with eosinophil counts >1000 eosinophils/µL.
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Salvador F, Treviño B, Bosch-Nicolau P, Serre-Delcor N, Sánchez-Montalvá A, Oliveira I, Sulleiro E, Aznar ML, Pou D, Sao-Avilés A, Molina I. Strongyloidiasis screening in migrants living in Spain: systematic review and meta-analysis. Trop Med Int Health 2020; 25:281-290. [PMID: 31758828 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To provide information regarding the prevalence of strongyloidiasis among migrants coming from Strongyloides stercoralis-endemic areas who reside in Spain. METHODS Systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis of studies showing prevalence of S. stercoralis infection among migrants from Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia and Oceania who reside in Spain. We included articles published until 30 April 2019 without language restriction. The keywords used for the search included 'Strongyloides stercoralis', 'strongyloidiasis', 'Spain', 'screening' and 'migrants'. RESULTS Twenty-four studies were included in the review and meta-analysis, comprising 12 386 screened people. Eleven studies (7020 patients) evaluated the presence of S. stercoralis infection only through investigation of larvae in faeces, showing an overall prevalence of 1% (95%CI 1-1%). Thirteen studies (5366 patients) used a serological test, showing an overall prevalence of 14% (95%CI 11-17%). Strongyloidiasis seroprevalence was 20% (95%CI 15-24%) among migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, 14% (95%CI 10-18%) among those from Latin America and 8% (95%CI 5-11%) among migrants from North Africa. CONCLUSIONS Migrants coming from strongyloidiasis-endemic areas living in Spain had a high S. stercoralis infection prevalence, particularly those from sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. This population should be screened using serology as the most sensitive test for S. stercoralis infection. This could be easily implemented at primary care level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Salvador
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Treviño
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pau Bosch-Nicolau
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Serre-Delcor
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inés Oliveira
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Sulleiro
- Department of Microbiology, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mª Luisa Aznar
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diana Pou
- Tropical Medicine Unit Vall d'Hebron-Drassanes, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Augusto Sao-Avilés
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Israel Molina
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Mendoza-Palomar N, Sulleiro E, Perez-Garcia I, Espiau M, Soriano-Arandes A, Martín-Nalda A, Espasa M, Zarzuela F, Soler-Palacin P. Schistosomiasis in children: review of 51 imported cases in Spain. J Travel Med 2020; 27:5671715. [PMID: 31821494 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taz099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N Mendoza-Palomar
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - E Sulleiro
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - I Perez-Garcia
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - M Espiau
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - A Soriano-Arandes
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - A Martín-Nalda
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - M Espasa
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - F Zarzuela
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - P Soler-Palacin
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Institut de Recerca Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Baauw A, Kist-van Holthe J, Slattery B, Heymans M, Chinapaw M, van Goudoever H. Health needs of refugee children identified on arrival in reception countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Paediatr Open 2019; 3:e000516. [PMID: 31646192 PMCID: PMC6782036 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2019-000516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The worldwide number of refugees has considerably increased due to ongoing wars, national instability, political persecution and food insecurity. In Europe, about one-third of all refugees are children, an increasing number of which are travelling alone. There are often no systematic medical health assessments for these refugee children on entry in reception countries despite the fact that they are recognised as an at-risk population due to increased burden of physical and mental health conditions. We aimed to perform a systematic review of the literature to describe the health status of refugee children on entering reception countries. METHODS A systematic search of published literature was conducted using the terms refugee, immigrant or migrant, medical or health, and screening. RESULTS Of the 3487 potentially relevant papers, 53 population-based studies were included in this review. This systematic review showed that refugee children exhibit high estimated prevalence rates for anaemia (14%), haemoglobinopathies (4%), chronic hepatitis B (3%), latent tuberculosis infection (11%) and vitamin D deficiency (45%) on entry in reception countries. Approximately one-third of refugee children had intestinal infection. Nutritional problems ranged from wasting and stunting to obesity. CONCLUSIONS Refugee children entering reception countries should receive comprehensive health assessments based on the outcomes of this systematic review, national budgets, cost-effectiveness and personal factors of the refugees. The health assessment should be tailored to individual child health needs depending on preflight, flight and postarrival conditions.A paradigm shift that places focus on child health and development will help this vulnerable group of children integrate into their new environments. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER 122561.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albertine Baauw
- Emma Children's Hospital, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joana Kist-van Holthe
- Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bridget Slattery
- Emma Children's Hospital, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn Heymans
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mai Chinapaw
- Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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