A strong woman with weak health. How to medically monitor asylum seekers with infectious diseases?
A strong woman with weak health
How to medically monitor asylum seekers with infectious diseases?
Wat is bekend?
- People from endemic areas, injecting drug users, homeless people, international protection seekers, and people without valid residence documents are at increased risk of infection with HIV, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis.
- Screening upon arrival in the host country is recommended and mandatory for tuberculosis. Testing for HIV and hepatitis C is done after informed consent.
Wat is nieuw?
- Given that up to 40% of HIV infections occur after arrival in the host country, detection after arrival in Belgium should be regularly repeated.
- A clinical screening for active tuberculosis through a questionnaire remains necessary during the first year in the host country.
- A residence status for medical reasons is allowed when, upon return to the country of origin, the disease poses a serious humanitarian risk to the patient.
Infection with the HIV virus
Every year, 800 to 900 new HIV diagnoses are made in Belgium. This corresponds to two to three diagnoses per day. An estimated 20,000 people in Belgium are living with HIV, and 2,000 to 3,000 people are still unaware that they are infected.1
In Western Europe, migrants make up 20 to 40% of people with HIV.2,3 It is noteworthy that HIV infection in people from Central Africa occurs in nearly half of cases after arrival in...
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Auteur(s)
- Ilse Ramboer is a center doctor at Fedasil Broechem;
- Annemarie Hoogewys is a medical coordinator at Fedasil Regio Noord;
- Jessica Tilley is a general practitioner at WGC Brugse Poort and a volunteer doctor at Doctors of the World.
Citeer dit artikel
- Ramboer I, Hoogewys A, Tilley J. A strong woman with weak health: how to provide medical follow-up for asylum seekers with infectious disease(s)? Huisarts Nu – Edition WONCA Europe Conference 2023;52(3):S22-S27.
- Original publication: Ramboer I, Hoogewys A, Tilley J. Een sterke vrouw met een zwakke gezondheid: hoe asielzoekers met infectieziekte(n) medisch opvolgen? Huisarts Nu 2019;48:294-9.
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