Health screening of international adoptees. Evaluation of a hospital based clinic.

ABSTRACT

PIP: This retrospective case review sought to report the findings of a health screening of 100 international adoptees. Included were the 1st 100 children who attended the Outpatient Inter-Country Adoption Clinic at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. A medical history was taken and a thorough physical examination and series of screening investigations were performed on all children. The children range in age from 2 months-16 years (median=5 months; mean=2.8 years). The countries most represented were Korea with 36 children and India with 21. 30 children fell below the 3rd Australian centile for both height and weight. Abnormalities on physical examination included hepatosplenomegaly (13 children), scabies (6), and severe dental caries (6). Parasitic infestation of the stools was found in 23 children, a positive Mantoux test result in 9 (3 with active tuberculosis), anemia in 12, elevated hepatic transaminase levels in 9, and positive hepatitis B surface antigen and e antigen in 2. I child had acquired syphilis. Screening for human immunodeficiency virus antibody gave negative results in all children. These international adoptees constitute a special pediatric subgroup which require assessment and screening as soon as possible after arrival in their adoptive country.