Health State of Syrian Children and Their Parents in a German Refugee Camp

Abstract

Abstract More than 1 million Syrian refugees have sought asylum in Europe since 2011. Disastrous conditions in their country and an arduous flight increased the risk for the emergence of physical and mental problems, especially in children. We performed a comprehensive medical and psychological examination in 96 Syrian refugee children aged 0–14 years in a German reception camp. Parents were interviewed and answered questions on health, flight and living conditions. In the children, we found most frequently somatic and in particular dental problems, incomplete immunization state and mental disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was diagnosed in 30.2 per cent of the children. Fifty-seven per cent of the parents reported somatic complaints; most of them were neurological (e.g. headache) and sleep disorders. Syrian refugee children show a significant rate of PTSD, somatic disorders and incomplete immunization state. The separation from family members during flight and physical complaints of the parents were identified as risk factors for PTSD in the children of our study. Early combined acute and preventive health-care management for children and their parents is indicated.