INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES: REVIEW OF PUBLISHED REPORTS

Authors

  • Florian H Pilsczek

Abstract

Infectious diseases of immigrants may differ from patients born and resident in the same country,especially if immigrants from Africa or Asia live in Europe or North America. Because the availableinformation is limited published reports of infections of Afghan immigrants in the United States andother countries were analysed. Four reports from the US and 15 reports from other countries wereidentified [7, (46.7%) Pakistan, 5 (33.3%) Iran, 1 (6.7%) United Kingdom, 1 (6.7%) Germany, 1 (6.7%)Israel)]. Reports from the US were case reports or case series of infections with gastro-intestinal parasitesand Mycobacterium tuberculosis (1, 25%), Echinococcus species (2, 50%), and Plasmodium vivax (1,25%). Reports from other countries were case reports, case series, or surveys and investigated infectionswith Echinococcus species (2, 13%), Hepatitis B virus (HBV) (1, 6.7%), M. tuberculosis (6, 40%), P.falciparum (1, 6.7%), Leishmania tropica (3, 20%), Fasciola hepatica (1, 6.7%), and M. leprae (1,6.7%). The reports suggest that Echinococcus species and L. tropica infections can be encountered inAfghan immigrants in the US, and the frequency of a positive PPD (purified protein derivative) responseor HBsAg test was increased. An infectious diseases database specific for the country of residencereadily available to clinicians treating Afghan patients outside of Afghanistan may be useful.Keywords: International Health, Immigrants, Afghanistan

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Published

2011-03-01

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 1 (2011): JOURNAL OF AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD

Section

REVIEW ARTICLE

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