Infections in Asymptomatic Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children in London 2016-2022

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children face higher infection risks and healthcare barriers.
• Limited evidence exists for asymptomatic infection screening guidelines in this population.
• This study addresses the need for data on infection prevalence in this cohort.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the prevalence of infections identified through routine screening.
• To provide evidence supporting the need for targeted infection screening in unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
• To contribute to the largest dataset on infection screening in this population in Europe.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of routinely collected data.
• Screening data from 1104 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children across 3 London centers (2016-2022).
• All participants accepted voluntary infection screening.

Main Results:

• 37% of children had at least one infection; 11% had multiple infections.
• Tuberculosis (18%) and schistosomiasis (17%) were highly prevalent.
• Hepatitis B (3.9%), Giardia (7.7%), tapeworm (3.3%), and Strongyloides (2.8%) were also commonly identified.

Conclusions:

• The study presents the largest known dataset of infection screening in asymptomatic unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Europe.
• Findings demonstrate a significant prevalence of infections of personal and public health importance.
• Data supports recommendations for routine asymptomatic screening in this high-risk population.