Original article / research
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Study of Tuberculin Reactivity in Clinically Suspected Cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Children & Adolescents |
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Correspondence
Address : Dr. Mohamad Ismael K Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, MES Medical College, Perinthalmanna, Kerala University of Health Sciences, Kerala, India. E-mail: hensapapa@gmail.com |
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Introduction: India harbors highest number of tuberculosis (TB) patients globally. Few studies have focused on TB in young children who constitute a vulnerable population and lack of early diagnosis results in increased morbidity. Aim: To study the tuberculin reactivity in clinically suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in children and adolescents attending Paediatrics OPD in a tertiary care centre and to study the effect of nutritional status of children on tuberculin reactivity. Study design: Cross sectional study was conducted in Department of Pediatrics of MES Medical college Hospital, Perinthalmanna, for a period 1 year starting from 01/01/2013 to 31/12/2013. In all 1120 subjects were considered for the study out of which 111 patients lost follow-up hence a final sample size of 1009 was obtained. Materials and Methods: Children aged between 1 to 18 years with suspected TB were prospectively enrolled at a Tertiary Hospital in Malappuram district, Kerala, India. Children were specifically examined for BCG scar. Tuberculin testing was done in all children using the purified protein derivative (PPD). Results: Tuberculin reactivity among clinically suspected cases of Pulmonary tuberculosis using 1TU PPDRT23 was only 4.8 % as per our study which is in concordance with new sputum positive /case detection rate in Malappuram district, ie; 22-25 per lakh per year. Malnourished children had more tuberculin reactivity than normal children in our study. Conclusion: Tuberculin test has a sensitivity only of 4.8% among all clinically suspected cases of tuberculosis, and malnutrition and tuberculosis often co-exist and worsen each other. |
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