The benefits of evaluating close associates of child tuberculin reactors from a high prevalence group

P.M. Sullam, G. Slutkin and P.C. Hopewell

American Journal of Public Health, 1986, vol. 76, issue 9, 1109-1111

Abstract: To determine the efficacy of evaluating persons (associates) in close contact to children with significant tuberculin reactions, we prospectively evaluated 831 associates of 297 children younger than eight years who had significant (≥10 mm) tuberculin reactions. Eighty-seven per cent of the index reactors were foreign-born, as were 84 per cent of the associates. All associates were evaluated by tuberculin skin testing: chest roentgenograms and sputum cultures were obtained if indicated. Four hundred sixty-one (55 per cent) of the associates had significant tuberculin reactions, and 15 had current tuberculosis. However, only three of these cases were newly discovered (total case rate: 1.81/100, new case rate: 0.36/100). Two of the three new cases were detected in the associates of children younger than three years of age. In addition, 338 candidates for isoniazid (INH) preventive therapy were found. We conclude that although the yield of new cases was low, the evaluation of associates did provide a convenient, high yield method of identifying candidates for INH preventive therapy. Moreover, it served as a useful mechanism for monitoring the adequacy of other case-finding activities.

Date: 1986
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1986:76:9:1109-1111_9

Access Statistics for this article

American Journal of Public Health is currently edited by Alfredo Morabia

More articles in American Journal of Public Health from American Public Health Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Christopher F Baum ().