Tuberculin survey in government high school of Dharan municipality

This survey was done in 682 out of 1672 children tested with Batch of Tuberculin used for Testing (PPD RT 23 with Tween 80) in Jan. 1997 with financial research grant of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan. Dharan City is situated in Eastern Development Region (EDR) of Nepal where a high percentage of migrated population is residing with very high number of sputum positive cases. The majority of population are from high hills and mountain region where the Annual Risk of Infection (ARI) is less. This survey was done to know the epidemiological situation of Tuberculosis (TB) in Dharan. Tuberculin survey was done in Eastern Development Region (EDR) (1994) by National Tuberculosis Centre (NTC)/Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Saptari and Morang. The reported result of average Annual Risk of Infection (ARI) is 2.49% and 2.38% respectively. The mean age of surveyed population was 14.8 yrs. The Bacilli Calmette Guerin (BCG) coverage (scar rate) was 38.3% and BCG 4-8 age group 83.3% was highest and it gradually decreased to 37.5% in 12 + age group. The average 23 Tween-8-Batch of Tuberculin used for Testing (PPD) positive is 33.6% with 10 mm induration as cutoff line. Annual Risk of Infection (ARI) based on above was 2.7% in 9-11 age group and 1.31% in 12 + age group. This survey is suggestive of tuberculosis being highly prevalent in Dharan. The survey also showed average ARI to be 2.44% in Dharan in 10-15 yrs age group. The finding is suggestive of high ARI although the populations has migrated from hill and mountain. Previous report of average ARI in this area was 2.5% (Morang and Saptari). The survey result suggests that high priority, effective tuberculosis program is necessary and intensive control program can only give impact to control of tuberculosis in Dharan.