Should obstetricians working in non-endemic countries care about emerging tropical diseases?

Abstract

Due to migration and international travels, obstetricians are increasingly faced with a globalized obstetric setting and should adapt their daily clinical and diagnostic approach to the modifications of tropical and subtropical infections epidemiology. This paper is focused on five emerging infectious diseases, namely Chagas disease, HTLV-1 infection, malaria, schistosomiasis and Zika virus infection, having a high prevalence in migrant populations and which can affect international travelers. These diseases frequently pass unrecognized since they are characterized by few or no symptoms during pregnancy, however they may cause a relevant maternal, fetal and neonatal impact. Specific and reliable diagnostic and treatment options are available but are rarely used during routine obstetrical practice.

Keywords: Asymptomatic; Chagas; Emerging infectious diseases; HTLV-1; Malaria; Migration; Pregnancy; Schistosomiasis; Screening; Travels; Tropical; Zika.