Screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis in a cohort of asylum seekers in Norway

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
Ingunn HarstadGeir W Jacobsen

Abstract

Asylum seekers are screened for tuberculosis at entry to Norway. We aimed to assess follow-up of screening results at different healthcare levels in relation to demographics, screening results and organizational factors, and how this influenced treatment of latent tuberculosis. All asylum seekers >or=18 years with a Mantoux test >or=6 mm or positive x-ray findings who arrived at the National Reception Centre from January 2005 to June 2006, were included. Data were collected from public health authorities in the municipality where the asylum seekers had moved, and from internists in case they had been referred to a specialist. Specialists are responsible for treating latent tuberculosis. Individual subjects were matched with the National Tuberculosis Register to which everybody who had started treatment for latent tuberculosis was reported. Of 4,643 asylum seekers, 2,237 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. By May 2008, 30 persons had started treatment for latent TB, a median of 17 months (range 3-36) after arrival. A Mantoux test >or=15 mm on arrival was significantly associated with treatment. Demographic factors influenced follow-up in primary healthcare while screening results did not. Referral to specialist was related to scre...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 6, 2010·BMC Public Health·Ingunn HarstadHelge Garåsen
May 16, 2009·BMC Public Health·Ingunn HarstadGeir W Jacobsen
Nov 23, 2016·International Journal of Infectious Diseases : IJID : Official Publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases·G J FoxJ T Denholm
Jan 14, 2012·Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række·Ingunn Harstad, Geir W Jacobsen
Feb 17, 2018·Public Health Reviews·Andreas Halgreen Eiset, Christian Wejse
Nov 21, 2018·BMC Infectious Diseases·Yvette Louise ScheinBrita Askeland Winje
Jan 14, 2012·Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række·Reidun BrunvatneElda Furulund Borg
Aug 8, 2021·The Lancet Infectious Diseases·Kieran RustageUNKNOWN ESGITM and ESGMYC study groups

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