RESUMEN
Helminth infections cause considerable morbidity worldwide and may be frequently underdiagnosed especially in areas of lower endemicity. Patients may harbor latent infections that may become symptomatic years or decades after the initial exposure and timely diagnosis may be critical to prevent complications and improve outcomes. In this context, disease in special populations, such as immunosuppressed patients, may be of particular concern. Heightened awareness and recent diagnostic developments may contribute to the correct management of helminth infections in nonendemic regions. A review of the main helminth infections in travelers and migrants (strongyloidiasis, taeniasis-neurocysticercosis and schistosomiasis) is presented, focusing on epidemiology, developments in diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Transmisibles Importadas , Emigrantes e Inmigrantes , Helmintiasis , Viaje , Enfermedades Transmisibles Importadas/diagnóstico , Enfermedades Transmisibles Importadas/epidemiología , Enfermedades Transmisibles Importadas/terapia , Enfermedades Transmisibles Importadas/transmisión , Helmintiasis/diagnóstico , Helmintiasis/epidemiología , Helmintiasis/terapia , Helmintiasis/transmisión , Humanos , Neurocisticercosis/diagnóstico , Neurocisticercosis/epidemiología , Neurocisticercosis/terapia , Neurocisticercosis/transmisión , Esquistosomiasis/diagnóstico , Esquistosomiasis/epidemiología , Esquistosomiasis/terapia , Esquistosomiasis/transmisión , Estrongiloidiasis/diagnóstico , Estrongiloidiasis/epidemiología , Estrongiloidiasis/terapia , Estrongiloidiasis/transmisión , Teniasis/diagnóstico , Teniasis/epidemiología , Teniasis/terapia , Teniasis/transmisiónAsunto(s)
Neuritis del Plexo Braquial/etiología , Enfermedad de Castleman/virología , Infecciones por VIH/complicaciones , Infecciones por Herpesviridae/complicaciones , Anticuerpos Monoclonales de Origen Murino/uso terapéutico , Enfermedad de Castleman/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones por Herpesviridae/virología , Herpesvirus Humano 8/aislamiento & purificación , Humanos , Factores Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , RituximabRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Immigrants are increasingly traveling back to their countries of origin to visit friends and relatives (VFRs). They account for an important proportion of all international travelers and have a high risk for certain travel-related infectious diseases. METHODS: We describe the spectrum of infectious diseases diagnosed in a cohort of 351 VFRs and compare them with two previously published cohorts: of immigrants and travelers attended at our centre. RESULTS: The most frequent diagnoses observed among VFRs were typical travel-associated infections such as malaria (75 [21.4%]), traveler's diarrhea 17 [4.8%]), intestinal parasites (16 [4.6%]) and dengue (11 [3.1%]). Asymptomatic chronic infectious diseases, such as latent tuberculosis (56 [16%]), chronic viral hepatitis (18 [5.1%]) and filariasis (18 [5.1%]), probably acquired before migration, were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: VFRs should thus be approached from two perspectives as concerns imported infectious diseases: as travelers and as immigrants. Etiological studies focusing on the presenting complaint as well as systematic screening for other latent infectious diseases should be performed.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Transmisibles/epidemiología , Emigrantes e Inmigrantes/estadística & datos numéricos , Viaje/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Niño , Estudios de Cohortes , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Salud Pública , Estudios Retrospectivos , Medicina del Viajero , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Cases of chronic Chagas disease have been increasing in non-endemic areas due to the growth in immigration. This study examined the association between positive Trypanosoma cruzi-DNA detection in blood by PCR and presence of chagasic cardiac involvement in a cohort of immigrants in a European city. No association was found in this study between the positive T. cruzi blood PCR and cardiac involvement.