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[Current incidence of tubercular infection in children in the Dolj district]
Insights
Tuberculosis infection rates in children under 14 are significantly lower than in 1966, with current infection risk at 1%. Intensive chemotherapy is credited for this decline, suggesting further acceleration of infection decrease is possible.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Public health epidemiology
- Tuberculosis control
Context:
- A study assessed tuberculosis (TB) infection prevalence in 122,459 children under 14.
- Testing involved intradermal administration of 2 U purified protein derivative (PPD).
- Focus was on reactions >10 mm to indicate high probability of infection, considering BCG vaccination history.
Purpose:
- To evaluate current tuberculosis infection rates in children.
- To compare contemporary prevalence with historical data from 1966.
- To assess the impact of chemotherapy on TB infection trends.
Summary:
- Tuberculosis prevalence was 6.82% in children up to 6 years and 17.12% in school children (grades II-VIII).
- Prevalence increased with age, from 3.93% at 1 year to 23.21% in grade VIII (13-14 years).
- Current infection risk is 1%, with a 7% annual decrease rate since 1956, significantly lower than 1966 levels.
Impact:
- Intensive chemotherapy in the area is linked to lower-than-average TB infection rates.
- The findings suggest that eliminating bacilli carriers through chemotherapy could further accelerate the decline in TB infection.
- This study provides valuable data for ongoing tuberculosis control strategies in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
A lot of 122459 children under the age of 14 were tested intradermally with 2 U PPD. Most of them had been vaccinated at birth and some revaccinated later during the 1966-1967 period, which does not represent interpretation of the prevalance of tuberculosis today, bearing in mind the low postvaccinal allergy of young children and the interval after the last vaccination, only the children with a reaction of more than 10 mm in diameter were taken into consideration as they represented the highest probability of the actual spread of the infection. In the age group up to 6 years 6.82% of the children were infected and 17.12% of the school children of grades II to VIII, i.e. less than the mean values recorded in the whole country. This was attributed to the intensive specific chemotherapy applied within the area. The prevalence gradually increased from 3.93% at the age of l year to 4.90% at 3 years, then sharply to 6.93% at 4 years (when the child's relations are extended) and 10.46% at 5 years. The proportion of infections was of 12--13% in grades II--IV (7-9 years), 16.63% in grade V, 20% in grade VI and 23.21% in grade VIII (13-14 years). The present values are much lower than those recorded in 1966. The present risk of infection is of 1%, with an annual decrease rate of 7%, starting in 1956. By comparison with the published data it is considered that neutralization by chemotherapy of all bacilli carriers will accelerate the rate of decrease of infection.