Infectious diseases in international adoptees from South Korea

Abstract

The purpose of this literature review is to discuss infectious diseases found in children adopted from South Korea but not commonly seen in pediatric primary care settings in the United States, as well as summarize screening tests and guidelines for early management of these medical conditions. The diseases were selected based on statistics from the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention and discussed in terms of pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, screening tests, management regimens, and implications on pre and post-adoptions. Additionally, current recommendations for the immunization of internationally adopted children and the immunization schedule in South Korea were reviewed. Pediatric primary care providers play a critical role in assessing newly arrived children from South Korea, providing age-appropriate immunizations, and educating the adoptive families about screening tests and management regimens when there are positive screening or diagnostic results and clinical symptoms.