[Health in the immigrant population: prevalence of latent tuberculosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis infection].

INTRODUCTION

To describe the prevalence of infectious diseases in immigrants.

METHODS

The Mantoux tuberculin skin test and serology testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis were performed in 488 immigrants.

RESULTS

A positive reaction to the Mantoux (> or = 10 mm) was found in 19.1% of individuals from Africa, 9.6% from Eastern Europe and 5.8% from South America (p < 0.001). With regard to hepatitis B, 2.5% of the Africans, 2.1% of the Eastern Europeans and none of the South Americans were carriers of the virus (p 5 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of infectious diseases in immigrants varies according to their country of origin.