Spectrum of infectious diseases among newly arrived Eritrean refugees in Switzerland: a cross-sectional study.
Int J Public Health
; 63(2): 233-239, 2018 Mar.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28924741
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Our study aimed at determining the prevalence of selected infectious diseases among recently arrived Eritrean refugees in Switzerland.METHODS:
In this cross-sectional study, asymptomatic Eritrean migrants aged ≥16 years who arrived <24 months ago were recruited at refugee centres in Switzerland. Infectious disease screening included serology for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and schistosomiasis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for malaria, stool microscopy for helminths and intestinal protozoa and circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) testing in urine for schistosomiasis.RESULTS:
Among 107 participating Eritrean refugees, point-of-care CCA urine test for Schistosoma mansoni was positive in 43 patients (40.2%; 95% CI 31.9-49.5). Stool microscopy detected eggs of S. mansoni in 23 (21.5%; 95% CI 13.7-29.3), Hymenolepis nana in 11 (10.3%; 95% CI 4.5-16.0), and cysts of Giardia intestinalis in 7 participants (6.5% 95% CI 1.9-11.2). Two tested positive for hepatitis B (1.9%; 95% CI 0.0-4.4) and one for syphilis (0.9%; 95% CI 0.0-2.8), none tested positive for HIV or hepatitis C. Malaria PCR was positive in six participants (5.6%; 95% CI 1.2-9.9).CONCLUSIONS:
Given the high prevalence of S. mansoni infection and potentially severe long-term sequelae of untreated schistosomiasis, routine screening for schistosomiasis in refugees from Schistosoma-endemic regions should be recommended.Mots clés
Texte intégral:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Réfugiés
/
Population de passage et migrants
/
Schistosomiase à Schistosoma mansoni
/
Maladies transmissibles
Type d'étude:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limites:
Adult
/
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Pays/Région comme sujet:
Africa
/
Europa
Langue:
En
Journal:
Int J Public Health
Sujet du journal:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Année:
2018
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
Suisse