title: Immunization status of internationally adopted children in Rome, Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  International adoption medicine is a relatively new specialty in pediatrics that has emerged to address the specific health care needs of internationally adopted children in high-income countries. This study ascertains the seroprotection rate for vaccine-preventable diseases, especially against pneumococcal diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 67 internationally adopted children that reached the International Adoption Unit of Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome-Italy. We collected demographic information, data from preadoption immunization records, results of laboratory testing for immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases (tetanus, pneumococcus, hepatitis B, hemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), measles), as well as results of screening for HIV, hepatitis C, quantiferon, immunological and nutritional status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For children that had received ≥3 vaccine doses of tetanus, overall protection was 94% of 31 vaccinated children; with 1-2 vaccine doses for hepatitis B and Hib respectively, protection was 45% of 29 vaccinated children and 63% of 8 vaccinated children, respectively. For children with one or more doses of measles vaccine, protection was 63% of 32 vaccinated children. Regarding pneumococcus vaccine (documented for eight children), 88% of children with one or more doses of vaccine had developed protective immunity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  International adoptees without a valid vaccine record need to undergo a complete schedule in accordance with their age and should receive all the vaccines in the adoptive country's schedule.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Pediatrics (DPUO), Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Tchidjou
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gargiullo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vescio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giampaolo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finocchi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000300:Adoption; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines