OBJECTIVE: To find the evolution of the prevalence of tubercular infection. DESIGN: Study of the tendency of the findings from crossover surveys carried out during the last 7 years. SETTING: First-year EGB students from public and private schools in the Autonomous Community of Murcia. INTERVENTION: Performing the Mantoux intradermoreaction test with 2 UT of PPDRT23/TWEEN80 for the first 5 years and 5 UT of PPDCT68/TWEEN80 the last 2, with any induration over 5 mm. being considered positive. A clinical study of school students found positive and of their family contacts. RESULTS: Coverage was established at about 80% (71,520 tests studied), with prevalence diminishing from 0.97% to 0.44%, this establishing a downward tendency (p < 0.001). 6.5% of the tuberculin-test positive students (21) and 2.8% of the family contacts (34) were diagnosed with tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: At the moment we lack data to suggest an increase in endemic tuberculosis among the school population. The results mentioned justify tuberculosis surveys of school students, although low prevalence suggests that the age at which it is performed should be raised.
OBJECTIVE: To find the evolution of the prevalence of tubercular infection. DESIGN: Study of the tendency of the findings from crossover surveys carried out during the last 7 years. SETTING: First-year EGB students from public and private schools in the Autonomous Community of Murcia. INTERVENTION: Performing the Mantoux intradermoreaction test with 2 UT of PPDRT23/TWEEN80 for the first 5 years and 5 UT of PPDCT68/TWEEN80 the last 2, with any induration over 5 mm. being considered positive. A clinical study of school students found positive and of their family contacts. RESULTS: Coverage was established at about 80% (71,520 tests studied), with prevalence diminishing from 0.97% to 0.44%, this establishing a downward tendency (p < 0.001). 6.5% of the tuberculin-test positive students (21) and 2.8% of the family contacts (34) were diagnosed with tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: At the moment we lack data to suggest an increase in endemic tuberculosis among the school population. The results mentioned justify tuberculosis surveys of school students, although low prevalence suggests that the age at which it is performed should be raised.
Authors: J R Villalbí; H Galdós-Tangüís; J A Caylà; P Casañas; A Ferrer; M Nebot Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 1999-02 Impact factor: 3.710