Abstract | OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the status of Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) in the children aged 0-5 y who are household contacts of adults having sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis and also to study the relationship of TST and Chest X-Ray (CXR) and their relevance in contact screening under RNTCP setup. METHODS: This prospective hospital based clinical study was conducted at a tertiary level referral medical college in Northern India. Study subjects were 200 children ≤5 y of age who were household contacts of adults with sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis. All these adult index cases were registered and taking regular treatment at RNTCP centre attached to a medical college. Demographic data collection, detailed clinical history along with clinical examination, growth assessment, TST and chest radiography (CXR) was done for every child. RESULTS: TST was positive in 39 % children and out of these 68 % of child contacts had CXR findings suggestive of tuberculosis. This correlation was found to be highly significant (p < 0.001), especially in children less than 1 y of age. A high percentage of clinically asymptomatic children also had positive TST and CXR consistent with definition of TB disease. CONCLUSIONS: Contact screening must be prioritized in RNTCP. Unlike presently, TST and CXR should be actively employed in RNTCP for contact screening.
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Authors | Sandhya Chauhan, Pratik Gahalaut, A K Rathi |
Journal | Indian journal of pediatrics
(Indian J Pediatr)
Vol. 80
Issue 4
Pg. 276-80
(Apr 2013)
ISSN: 0973-7693 [Electronic] India |
PMID | 22688652
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Child, Preschool
- Contact Tracing
(statistics & numerical data)
- Female
- Hospitals, Teaching
- Humans
- Incidence
- India
(epidemiology)
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Male
- Malnutrition
(complications)
- Mass Screening
(methods)
- National Health Programs
(statistics & numerical data)
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed
- Tuberculin Test
(methods)
- Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
(diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, immunology, prevention & control)
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