Value of Mantoux Test in diagnosis of tuberculosis in chronic illness

Total 240 cases of 2-12 years age group who had contact of tuberculosis indirectly or directly and had chronic illness were screened for tuberculosis. Out of 240 cases, 180 cases were diagnosed as tuberculosis. Special emphasis was given on Mantoux Test (M.T.), though the battery of tests were done to diagnose tuberculosis. Out of 180 cases of Tuberculosis, M.T. was Positive in 97 cases (40.41%) and repeat M.T. was done after 3 weeks and was converted to Positive in 20 cases (8.33%). Thus only M.T. help in diagnosis of Tuberculosis in almost 50% of the cases.