Communicable disease in African immigrants in Minneapolis.
BACKGROUND
Despite increasing numbers of African immigrants to the United States, there is a lack of detailed information about their health problems.


METHODS
Data on communicable diseases were obtained from the charts of all 102 patients who had emigrated from Africa in the last 5 years and were seen at an urban clinic in Minneapolis, Minn, during the last 7 months of 1997.


RESULTS
Eight patients had active tuberculosis, 10 had hepatitis B, 7 trichuriasis, 2 amebiasis, 1 schistosomiasis, 1 ascariasis, 2 human immunodeficiency virus infection, and 1 malaria. All patients tested had antibodies to hepatitis A, 55% to hepatitis B, and 3% to hepatitis C. Characteristics of these patients are described.


CONCLUSIONS
Communicable diseases are common in African immigrants, often despite a healthy appearance and prolonged residence in the United States. Careful screening is warranted.
Adair
R
R
Department of Medical Education, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn 55407, USA. adair001@tc.umn.edu
Nwaneri
O
O
D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology