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

Sarah Eisen1,2, Bhanu Williams3, Jonathan Cohen4

  • 1From the Department of Paediatrics, UCLH Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|September 19, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Routine screening for infections in unaccompanied asylum-seeking children found high rates of tuberculosis and schistosomiasis. This data supports regular asymptomatic infection screening for this vulnerable group.

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.
Abstract

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