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HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections: Testing and Treatment Considerations for Refugees

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Refugee Health Care

Abstract

HIV prevalence has been on the rise in many countries from which refugees emigrate and presents therapeutic challenges upon arrival to the United States. The HIV entry ban that previously prevented immigration of HIV-infected individuals into the United States has now been lifted. Refugees may acquire several risk factors prior to displacement and during migration. In addition, they may not have access to HIV treatment and prevention packages in conflict-ridden regions of the world. Therefore, refugee providers will need to be familiar with fundamental HIV testing and treatment principles, including for HIV-2, particularly as they pertain to refugees that may have co-morbid mental illness and/or who may be of child-bearing age. In addition, providers should recognize the clinical manifestations to diagnose and treat prevalent sexually transmitted infections among refugees, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, and lymphogranuloma venereum. This section will review the existing epidemiologic data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and centers that provide care for refugees. It will also highlight key screening, testing, and management considerations for different HIV subtypes and other major sexually transmitted infections that are high-yield for providing care to refugee populations in a primary care setting.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis Street, LMOB Ground Floor, Boston, 02118, MA, USA

    Sachin Jain M.D., M.P.H. & Jennifer Adelson-Mitty M.D. M.P.H.

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  1. Sachin Jain M.D., M.P.H.
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  2. Jennifer Adelson-Mitty M.D. M.P.H.
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Correspondence to Sachin Jain M.D., M.P.H. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Depts. of Internal Medicine & Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Aniyizhai Annamalai

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Jain, S., Adelson-Mitty, J. (2014). HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections: Testing and Treatment Considerations for Refugees. In: Annamalai, A. (eds) Refugee Health Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0271-2_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0271-2_9

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