Aims and objectives
The primary objective of this retrospective study is to report the incidence of infectious diseases among Mediterranean migrants landed at the most involved port in Italy,
point of arrival and connecting bridge to Europe,
diagnosed with imaging and clinical-laboratory data.
The secondary objective is to evaluate radiological findings of endemic diseases in origin countries and re-emerging infections once eradicated in Europe.
Methods and materials
From 2016 to 2017,
31529 migrants (including 125 dead) have landed in the south of Italy at the Catania port,
the most involved in landings.
The survivors underwent to an immediate clinical diagnosis at dedicated docks.
167 symptomatic migrants,
(136 Male,
19 Female; 14 unknown identity; middle age 22,3 years old,
range 1-55) were carried in at the high bio-containment unit of the “Garibaldi Centro” hospital and evaluated with imaging (X-ray,
Computer Tomography or Magnetic Resonance) and routine laboratory data.Patients clinically suspected for tuberculosis (TB)...
Results
Pathological findings were found in 41% of migrants (65/167).
They showed infectious diseases diagnosed with imaging classified as follows:
- 24 (37%) TB infections: 13 primary TB,
11 post-primary TB.
The figures 1-2 show typical appearance of TB infections at X-Ray and CT.
The figure 3 shows a case of post-primary tuberculosis with brain localization studied by magnetic resonance imaging.
-30 (46%) pneumonia: 19 lobar pneumonias and 11 interstitial-atypical pneumonia (Non-TB Mycobacterium,
Chlamydia,
Mycoplasma Pneumoniae – Fig 4).
- 11 (17%) minor diseases.
Among these,...
Conclusion
There are many infectious diseases among migrants.
Poor travel conditions,
malnutrition and promiscuity are high risk factors to active infections or latent infection reactivation,
especially TB infection.
The radiologist must know these diseases and their increasing incidence in migrants.
The familiarity with radiological findings of these diseases make early diagnosis,
facilitate timely treatment and prevent the spread of infectious diseases in the country of landing and in Europe.
Personal information
MV Raciti,
MD
University of Pavia
Institute of Radiology,
Foundation IRCCS Polyclinic San Matteo,
Pavia,
Italy
Viale Camillo Golgi 19
27100 Pavia
e-mail:
[email protected]
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