A R T Shastri1, V T Serane, S Mahadevan, P Nalini. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry, India.
Abstract
SETTING: School-based cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of qualitative tuberculin responses (turgid and non-turgid type) in diagnosis of tuberculosis disease in apparently healthy schoolchildren. DESIGN: Qualitative tuberculin responses were assessed in 548 apparently healthy schoolchildren. Tuberculin-positive (> or = 10 mm) children were investigated for evidence of tuberculosis. The relationship between the types of qualitative tuberculin response and occurrence of tuberculosis was studied. RESULTS: Eighty-eight (16.1%) children were found to be tuberculin-positive. Of these, 68 had non-turgid reaction whereas 20 had turgid reaction. Most of the children with a reaction of 5-9 mm had a non-turgid type of tuberculin reaction. Only four children with non-turgid reaction had tuberculosis, while 18 children with turgid reaction had tuberculosis disease (P < 0.0001). A larger tuberculin reaction was found to be associated with a higher occurrence of tuberculosis (P = 0.016 by linear regression method). CONCLUSION: The observations indicate a possible relation between turgid reaction and tuberculosis disease.
SETTING: School-based cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of qualitative tuberculin responses (turgid and non-turgid type) in diagnosis of tuberculosis disease in apparently healthy schoolchildren. DESIGN: Qualitative tuberculin responses were assessed in 548 apparently healthy schoolchildren. Tuberculin-positive (> or = 10 mm) children were investigated for evidence of tuberculosis. The relationship between the types of qualitative tuberculin response and occurrence of tuberculosis was studied. RESULTS: Eighty-eight (16.1%) children were found to be tuberculin-positive. Of these, 68 had non-turgid reaction whereas 20 had turgid reaction. Most of the children with a reaction of 5-9 mm had a non-turgid type of tuberculin reaction. Only four children with non-turgid reaction had tuberculosis, while 18 children with turgid reaction had tuberculosis disease (P < 0.0001). A larger tuberculin reaction was found to be associated with a higher occurrence of tuberculosis (P = 0.016 by linear regression method). CONCLUSION: The observations indicate a possible relation between turgid reaction and tuberculosis disease.