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[Tuberculosis among immigrants in Scandinavian medical journals]
1Diakonhjemmets høgskolesenter Postboks 184 Vinderen 0319 Oslo. merete.steen@helsetilsynet.dep.no
Background:
The decline in incidence of tuberculosis in Scandinavia has stagnated in the last decades because of a growing number of immigrants from high incidence countries. The aim of this study was to find out what has been published on tuberculosis among immigrants in Denmark, Norway and Sweden in the main medical journals in these countries from 1995 to 2000.
Material And Methods:
23 papers on the topic were identified through PubMed searches. Eight papers were selected for a more detailed description of their content.
Results:
The main medical journals in Denmark, Norway and Sweden have published papers on epidemiological aspects and clinical traits as well as the challenge for the health services of controlling tuberculosis in immigrants. The majority of patients are under the age of 40 and of African origin. They seldom infect the population of the host country. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is relatively common. Control on arrival could be improved in all three countries. Considerable doctor's and patient's delay is not uncommon.
Interpretation:
Medical journals are an important source for knowledge on tuberculosis among immigrants from high incidence countries.