Screening for Neglected Tropical Diseases and other infections in African refugees and asylum seekers in Rome and Lazio region, Italy.
Travel Med Infect Dis
; 56: 102649, 2023.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37820947
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Few reliable data are available on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and other infections among African refugees and asylum seekers in Italy. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of NTDs and other infections in a large cohort of African refugees and asylum seekers living in reception centers in Lazio, Italy. MATERIAL ANDMETHODS:
This is an observational, prospective prevalence study on infectious diseases in a large population of African refugees and asylum seekers (936 overall) consecutively enrolled for screening purpose at the Infectious and Tropical diseases outpatient clinic of the National Institute of Migrant and Poverty (INMP), Rome from August 2019 to December 2020.RESULTS:
We found a prevalence of 8.8 % and 31 % for Strongyloides and schistosoma infection, respectively, while the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was 0.7 %, HCV antibodies 2.5%, hepatitis B virus surface antigen 10.8 % and syphilis serological tests 2.9 %.CONCLUSION:
Strongyloidiasis and schistosomiasis are highly prevalent among African refugees and asylum seekers in Italy, in contrast to communicable diseases (with the exception of hepatitis B). Raising awareness of NTDs among health professionals and implementing guidelines seems to be of paramount importance to prevent these diseases and their sufferers from becoming even more "neglected".Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Refugiados
/
Infecções por HIV
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article