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Growth status and the risk of contracting primary tuberculosis
Insights
A school outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) infected nearly a quarter of children. Infected children showed slightly better growth than non-infected peers, but nutritional status did not increase infection risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- An open tuberculosis (TB) infection in a primary school staff member led to a significant outbreak.
- Nearly 25% of the student population contracted a primary TB infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the growth status of children with primary TB infection to non-infected children.
- To assess if nutritional status influences the risk of contracting primary TB infection.
Main Methods:
- Growth status (height and weight) of infected children was measured before and twice after the outbreak.
- Comparison was made between infected children and a control group of non-infected children.
Main Results:
- Children with TB infection were generally taller and heavier than controls, though not always statistically significant.
- No increased risk of primary TB infection was observed in thin or small children with good nutritional status.
Conclusions:
- Primary tuberculous infection in children may be associated with slightly enhanced growth parameters.
- Nutritional status alone does not appear to be a primary risk factor for contracting primary TB infection in a school setting.
Abstract:
A case of open tuberculous infection in a member of staff at a primary school resulted in an outbreak in which nearly a quarter of the children in the school contracted a primary infection. The growth status of these children was compared with that in the non-infected children before the outbreak and on two occasions after the outbreak. The children with tuberculous infection were taller and fatter than the controls before and after the outbreak but differences were not always statistically significant. Among children with a good nutritional status the thin and small child is at no greater risk of contracting primary tuberculous infection than other children.