Randomized study of the effect of topical anesthesia on tuberculin skin test reaction size in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric infectious disease
• Dermatology
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Tuberculin skin test (TST) is crucial for diagnosing tuberculosis in children.
• Administering TST can cause discomfort, leading to potential challenges in application.
• Topical anesthesia is explored to improve patient comfort during TST.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of a lidocaine-prilocaine mixture on TST induration size in pediatric patients.
• To determine if topical anesthesia impacts the accuracy of TST results.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 46 children aged 0.4 to 15.9 years.
• TST was performed on participants both with and without prior application of lidocaine-prilocaine cream.
• Measurement of TST induration size was conducted to compare results between the two conditions.

Main Results:

• The application of topical lidocaine-prilocaine did not significantly alter the size of the TST reaction.
• No statistically significant difference was observed in TST induration between the anesthesia and no-anesthesia groups.
• The findings indicate topical anesthesia does not interfere with TST interpretation.

Conclusions:

• Topical lidocaine-prilocaine mixture is a viable option for reducing discomfort during TST in children.
• The use of lidocaine-prilocaine for TST in pediatric populations does not compromise the test's diagnostic accuracy.
• This method can potentially improve TST compliance and reduce patient anxiety.