Imported infectious diseases in mobile populations, Spain.
Migration has contributed to the emergence of certain infectious diseases. To determine which infectious diseases were most common among 2 mobile immigrant groups (sub-Saharan Africans and Latin Americans) in Spain, we analyzed health and demographic characteristics of 2,198 immigrants referred to the Tropical Medicine Unit of Ramon y Cajal Hospital over a 20-year period. The most frequent diagnoses were for latent tuberculosis (716 patients [32.6%]), filariasis (421 [19.2%]), hepatropic virus chronic infection (262 [19.2%]), intestinal parasites (242 [11.0%]), and malaria (212 [9.6%]). Health screening of immigrant populations is needed to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of potentially transmissible infections.
Monge-Maillo
Begoña
B
Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Madrid 28034, Spain.
Jiménez
B Carolina
BC
Pérez-Molina
José A
JA
Norman
Francesca
F
Navarro
Miriam
M
Pérez-Ayala
Ana
A
Herrero
Juan M
JM
Zamarrón
Pilar
P
López-Vélez
Rogelio
R
D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult