Profile of illness in Syrian refugees: A GeoSentinel analysis, 2013 to 2015

Euro Surveill. 2016;21(10):30160. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.10.30160.

Abstract

Screening of 488 Syrian unaccompanied minor refugees (< 18 years-old) in Berlin showed low prevalence of intestinal parasites (Giardia, 7%), positive schistosomiasis serology (1.4%) and absence of hepatitis B. Among 44 ill adult Syrian refugees examined at GeoSentinel clinics worldwide, cutaneous leishmaniasis affected one in three patients; other noteworthy infections were active tuberculosis (11%) and chronic hepatitis B or C (9%). These data can contribute to evidence-based guidelines for infectious disease screening of Syrian refugees.

Keywords: Geosentinel; Giardia; Leishmania; Syria; refugee; tuberculosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities
  • Berlin / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Communicable Diseases / classification
  • Communicable Diseases / epidemiology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants
  • Female
  • Health Status*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data*
  • Refugees / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sentinel Surveillance*
  • Syria / ethnology