[Health in the immigrant population: prevalence of latent tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis infection].
BACKGROUND
To describe the prevalence of infectious diseases in immigrants.


METHODS
The Mantoux tuberculin skin test and serology testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis were performed in 488 immigrants.


RESULTS
A positive reaction to the Mantoux (> or = 10 mm) was found in 19.1% of individuals from Africa, 9.6% from Eastern Europe and 5.8% from South America (p < 0.001). With regard to hepatitis B, 2.5% of the Africans, 2.1% of the Eastern Europeans and none of the South Americans were carriers of the virus (p 5 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of infectious diseases in immigrants varies according to their country of origin.
Ramos
José Manuel
JM
Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Servicio de Medicina Interna. Hospital General Universitario de Elche. Alicante. Spain. jramosrincon@terra.es
Pastor
Concepción
C
Masía
M Mar
MM
Cascales
Eva
E
Royo
Gloria
G
Gutiérrez-Rodero
Félix
F
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006304:Health Status; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*