Infectious diseases detected by screening after arrival to Denmark in internationally adopted children

TY - JOUR

T1 - Infectious diseases detected by screening after arrival to Denmark in internationally adopted children

AU - Nielsen, Agnethe Vale

AU - Kjærgaard, Jesper

AU - Pedersen, Tine Marie

AU - Helmuth, Ida Glode

AU - Nygaard, Ulrikka

AU - Nielsen, Helle Winter

AU - Christensen, Vibeke Brix

AU - Kurtzhals, Jørgen Anders Lindholm

AU - Poulsen, Anja

PY - 2020/5/1

Y1 - 2020/5/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - adoptees

KW - hepatitis A

KW - hepatitis B

KW - infectious diseases

KW - intestinal parasites

KW - tuberculosis

U2 - 10.1111/apa.15045

DO - 10.1111/apa.15045

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 31580515

AN - SCOPUS:85074750525

SN - 0803-5253

JO - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics

JF - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics

ER -