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Comparison Of Positivity Of Tuberculin Skin Test With Diagnostic Bcg In Children Suffering From Tuberculosis

Tariq Alam1, Zaheer Abbas2, Saima Gillani2

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, DHQ Hospital, Tank.

Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC
|June 26, 2020
PubMed

Insights

In children, the diagnostic Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) test shows higher accuracy for tuberculosis detection compared to the Tuberculin Skin Test. This finding is crucial for diagnosing pediatric tuberculosis effectively.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant public health challenge in Pakistan, particularly impacting children under five.
  • Pediatric TB is often difficult to diagnose due to atypical presentations, leading to unrecognized morbidity and mortality.
  • Children, especially the immunocompromised, are at higher risk of developing TB post-exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the diagnostic value of the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) test in diagnosing tuberculosis in children.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of these diagnostic tools in a pediatric population in Pakistan.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2017 to November 2018 at Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad.
  • Both TST and diagnostic BCG tests were administered simultaneously by the same physician.
  • Induration from both tests was read 48-72 hours post-administration, with data on patient demographics and test results recorded.

Main Results:

  • The Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) showed positivity in 51 (67.10%) pediatric patients.
  • The diagnostic Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) test yielded positive results in 71 (93.42%) of the pediatric patients.
  • BCG testing demonstrated a significantly higher positivity rate compared to TST in this cohort.

Conclusions:

  • The diagnostic BCG test exhibits superior diagnostic value over the Tuberculin Skin Test for identifying tuberculosis in the pediatric age group.
  • This suggests BCG testing may be a more reliable method for diagnosing pediatric TB in endemic settings.
  • Improved diagnostic accuracy can lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes for children with tuberculosis.
Abstract

Keywords:
BCG Test; Pulmonary TuberculosisTuberculin Skin Test

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