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

Agnethe Vale Nielsen; Jesper Kjærgaard; Tine Marie Pedersen; Ida Glode Helmuth; Ulrikka Nygaard; Helle Winter Nielsen; Vibeke Brix Christensen; Jørgen Anders Lindholm Kurtzhals; Anja Poulsen

doi:10.1111/apa.15045

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

Agnethe Vale Nielsen, Jesper Kjærgaard^*, Tine Marie Pedersen, Ida Glode Helmuth, Ulrikka Nygaard, Helle Winter Nielsen, Vibeke Brix Christensen, Jørgen Anders Lindholm Kurtzhals, Anja Poulsen

^*Corresponding author for this work

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Journal	Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
ISSN	0803-5253
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15045
Publication status	Published - 1 May 2020

Keywords

adoptees
hepatitis A
hepatitis B
infectious diseases
intestinal parasites
tuberculosis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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@article{d66374426fc64a45af01e5a00dbd81d8,

title = "Infectious diseases detected by screening after arrival to Denmark in internationally adopted children",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "adoptees, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, infectious diseases, intestinal parasites, tuberculosis",

author = "Nielsen, {Agnethe Vale} and Jesper Kj{\ae}rgaard and Pedersen, {Tine Marie} and Helmuth, {Ida Glode} and Ulrikka Nygaard and Nielsen, {Helle Winter} and Christensen, {Vibeke Brix} and Kurtzhals, {J{\o}rgen Anders Lindholm} and Anja Poulsen",

year = "2020",

month = may,

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doi = "10.1111/apa.15045",

language = "English",

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issn = "0803-5253",

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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, Supplement

JF - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, Supplement

ER -

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

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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