title: Emerging pediatric HIV epidemic related to migration.
abstract: In 2002, Canada introduced routine, mandatory HIV antibody screening for all residency applicants, including selected children. We report screening results from January 2002 to February 2005. Thirty-six pediatric HIV cases were detected (14/100,000 applicants); 94% of infected children were eligible to arrive in Canada. Thirty-two of the affected children were from Africa, and maternal infection was the main risk factor. Only 4 (11%) of the children had received antiretroviral therapy. In countries of low HIV incidence, migration-related imported infection in children may be an emerging epidemic. The early identification of HIV-infected immigrant women permits intervention to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. Routine HIV testing as a component of the medical examination of immigrants has national and international health policy and programmatic implications.
authors.affiliation: Migration Health Consultants Inc., Cheltenham, Ontario, Canada. douglaswmacpherson@migrationhealth.com
authors.forename: Douglas W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: MacPherson
authors.forename: Militza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zencovich
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gushulak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors