Screening for parasites in migrant children. Issue 47 (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bustamante, Jorge; Sainz, Talía; Ara-Montojo, María Fátima; Almirón, Mariana Díaz; Subirats, Mercedes; Vega, Dolores Montero; Mellado, María José; López-Hortelano, Milagros García
• Is Part Of: Travel medicine and infectious disease. Issue 47(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Parasites -- International adopted children -- Unaccompanied minors -- Migrant children -- Screening; BMI body mass index -- CI confidence interval -- EIA Enzyme immunoassay -- ELISA Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay -- H height -- Hb hemoglobin -- HC head circumference -- IgE Immunoglobulin E -- IQR Interquartile range -- OR odds ratio -- UAMC unaccompanied migrant children -- W weight -- WI Waterlow index -- WHO World Health Organization; Travel -- Health aspects -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102287
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-8939

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Globalization has pushed population movements in the last decades, turning imported diseases into the focus. Due to behavioral habits, children are at higher risk of acquiring parasitosis. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of parasites in migrant children and factors associated with parasitic diseases. Method: Retrospective cross-sectional study (2014–2018) including children diagnosed with parasitosis. The diagnosis was based on serology and/or microscopic stool-sample evaluation. Epidemiological and clinical data were recorded. Results: Out of 813 migrant children screened, 241 (29.6%) presented at least one parasite, and 89 (10.9%) more than one. The median age was 6.6 years (IQR: 3.1–11.9) and 58.9% were males. Most cases were referred for a health exam; only 52.3% of children were symptomatic, but 43.6% had eosinophilia. The most common diagnosis were giardiasis (35.3%), schistosomiasis (19.1%), toxocariasis (15.4%), and strongyloidiasis (9.1%). After the multivariate analysis, African origin and presenting with eosinophilia were the main risk factors for parasitism. Conclusions: parasitosis are frequent among migrant children. Children are often asymptomatic, and thus active screening for parasitosis should be considered among high-risk populations. Eosinophilia can be useful to guide complimentary tests, as well as geographical origin, but normal eosinophil count does not exclude parasitosis. Highlights: Screening for parasites is recommended in migrant children. Serological tests are useful for screening some helminthiasis such as strongyloidiasis, toxocariasis, and schistosomiasis. The absence of eosinophilia does not exclude parasitosis.