Agnethe Vale Nielsen1, Jesper Kjaergaard1, Tine Marie Pedersen2,3, Ida Glode Helmuth1, Ulrikka Nygaard1, Helle Winter Nielsen1, Vibeke Brix Christensen1, Jørgen Anders Lindholm Kurtzhals4,5, Anja Poulsen1. 1. The Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. 2. Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Naestved, Denmark. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Naestved Hospital, Naestved, Denmark. 4. Centre for Medical Parasitology at Department of Clinical Microbiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. 5. Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
AIM: To show the prevalence of selected infectious diseases among internationally adopted children (IAC) in Denmark. BACKGROUND: Each year approximately 200 IAC arrive in Denmark. These are at increased risk of infectious diseases rarely seen in Danish children. Studies from the 1990s showed that 60% of IAC had infectious diseases and that the majority of these were undetected without screening. METHODS: The study is a prospective study of medical records from children seen in the adoption clinic at Copenhagen University Hospital in the period 2009-2013. Screening was done for hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV) and C (HCV), syphilis, HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and intestinal parasites. RESULTS: In 245 IAC tested, 2% had evidence of recent HAV infection, 3% with HBV and one child with HCV, and no cases of HIV were found. One child had antibodies against syphilis (anti-Trpa AB positivity), and 2% were latently infected with tuberculosis. We found 30% infected with pathogenic intestinal parasites. Only 46% had serologic evidence of immunisation against HBV. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of infections in IAC was lower than previously reported but compared to the general population, a higher prevalence of intestinal parasites, hepatitis and tuberculosis was found. We recommend that IAC are offered screening shortly after arrival.
AIM: To show the prevalence of selected infectious diseases among internationally adopted children (IAC) in Denmark. BACKGROUND: Each year approximately 200 IAC arrive in Denmark. These are at increased risk of infectious diseases rarely seen in Danish children. Studies from the 1990s showed that 60% of IAC had infectious diseases and that the majority of these were undetected without screening. METHODS: The study is a prospective study of medical records from children seen in the adoption clinic at Copenhagen University Hospital in the period 2009-2013. Screening was done for hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV) and C (HCV), syphilis, HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and intestinal parasites. RESULTS: In 245 IAC tested, 2% had evidence of recent HAV infection, 3% with HBV and one child with HCV, and no cases of HIV were found. One child had antibodies against syphilis (anti-Trpa AB positivity), and 2% were latently infected with tuberculosis. We found 30% infected with pathogenic intestinal parasites. Only 46% had serologic evidence of immunisation against HBV. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of infections in IAC was lower than previously reported but compared to the general population, a higher prevalence of intestinal parasites, hepatitis and tuberculosis was found. We recommend that IAC are offered screening shortly after arrival.
Authors: Anna-Riitta Heikkilä; Marko Elovainio; Hanna Raaska; Jaakko Matomäki; Jari Sinkkonen; Helena Lapinleimu Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-01-25 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Júlia Šmigová; Viliam Šnábel; Serena Cavallero; Ľubomír Šmiga; Jindřich Šoltys; Ján Papaj; Ingrid Papajová Journal: Microorganisms Date: 2022-02-06