Health conditions affecting newly arrived refugee children

A recent study has highlighted the need to screen newly arrived refugee children in Australia for common diseases and nutritional deficiencies (1).

Refugee children attending the specialist refugee paediatric clinic at the Childrens Hospital Westmead between mid 2005 and the end of 2006, were investigated via blood tests for TB, hepatitis B, syphilis, Schistosomiasis, malaria and  vitamin D and iron status. Over three quarters of the children were from Africa with 36% aged between 0-7 years and the remainder between 8-17 years.

Schistosomiasis was found in 16% of the children, malaria in 5% and 4% were hepatitis B carriers. Of those tested for TB ( Mantoux test) 57% had positive tuberculin reactions, with 4 children having the active disease. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 61% of children and anaemia in 15%. Most children didn't have any symptoms of the diseases, with the prevalence higher in African children.

The authors conclude that screening for infectious diseases ( even though the chid may be asympotmatic) and nutritional deficiencies should be part of the routine health assessment for all refugee children.

Reference:

1. Sheik M, Pal Abhijit P et al. The epidemiology of health conditions of newly arrived refugee children: A reveiw of patients attending a specialist health clinic in Sydney.  J of Paediatric and Child Health 2009;45(9):509-513