TY - JOUR
T1 - Italian multicentre study found infectious and vaccine-preventable diseases in children adopted from Africa and recommends prompt medical screening
AU - Chiappini, Elena
AU - Zaffaroni, Mauro
AU - Bianconi, Martina
AU - Veneruso, Giuseppina
AU - Grasso, Nicolino
AU - Garazzino, Silvia
AU - Arancio, Rosangela
AU - Valentini, Piero
AU - Ficcadenti, Anna
AU - Da Riol, Maria Rosalia
AU - La Placa, Simona
AU - Galli, Luisa
AU - de Martino, Maurizio
AU - Bona, Gianni
PY - 2018/9/1
Y1 - 2018/9/1
N2 - Aim: This study evaluated the prevalence of infectious diseases and immunisation status of children adopted from Africa. Methods: We studied 762 African children referred to 11 Italian paediatric centres in 2009–2015. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected and analysed. Results: The median age of the children (60.3% males) was 3 years and 6 months, 52.6% came from Ethiopia and 50.1% had at least one infectious disease. Parasitic infections accounted for the majority of the infectious diseases (409 of 715), and the most common were Giardia lamblia (n = 239), Toxocara canis (n = 65) and skin infections (n = 205), notably Tinea capitis/corporis (n = 134) and Molluscum contagiosum (n = 56) Active tuberculosis (TB) was diagnosed in nine children (1.2%). Latent TB infections were diagnosed in 52 (6.8%) children, and only 23 had concordant positive tuberculin skin tests and Quantiferon Gold In-Tube results. Discordant results were associated with Bacille de Calmette-Guérin vaccinations (odd ratio 6.30 and 95% confidence interval of 1.01–39.20, p = 0.011). Nonprotective antitetanus or antihepatitis B antibody titres were documented in 266 (34.9%) and 396 (51.9%) of the 762 children. Conclusion: The prevalence of infectious conditions and not-protective titres for vaccine-preventable diseases observed in our population underlines the need for prompt and complete medical screening of children adopted from Africa.
AB - Aim: This study evaluated the prevalence of infectious diseases and immunisation status of children adopted from Africa. Methods: We studied 762 African children referred to 11 Italian paediatric centres in 2009–2015. Clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively collected and analysed. Results: The median age of the children (60.3% males) was 3 years and 6 months, 52.6% came from Ethiopia and 50.1% had at least one infectious disease. Parasitic infections accounted for the majority of the infectious diseases (409 of 715), and the most common were Giardia lamblia (n = 239), Toxocara canis (n = 65) and skin infections (n = 205), notably Tinea capitis/corporis (n = 134) and Molluscum contagiosum (n = 56) Active tuberculosis (TB) was diagnosed in nine children (1.2%). Latent TB infections were diagnosed in 52 (6.8%) children, and only 23 had concordant positive tuberculin skin tests and Quantiferon Gold In-Tube results. Discordant results were associated with Bacille de Calmette-Guérin vaccinations (odd ratio 6.30 and 95% confidence interval of 1.01–39.20, p = 0.011). Nonprotective antitetanus or antihepatitis B antibody titres were documented in 266 (34.9%) and 396 (51.9%) of the 762 children. Conclusion: The prevalence of infectious conditions and not-protective titres for vaccine-preventable diseases observed in our population underlines the need for prompt and complete medical screening of children adopted from Africa.
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Immunisation
KW - International adoption
KW - Parasitic infections
KW - Tuberculosis
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U2 - 10.1111/apa.14237
DO - 10.1111/apa.14237
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85041712312
VL - 107
SP - 1581
EP - 1586
JO - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
JF - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
SN - 0803-5253
IS - 9
ER -