Enrollment in English-as-a-second-language class as a predictor of tuberculosis infection in schoolchildren

To assess the rate of tuberculosis infection among Hispanic students enrolled in English-as-a-Second-Language classes compared with Hispanic and non-Hispanic students not enrolled in such classes.

Using Mantoux tuberculin skin tests, the authors screened 720 students--out of 844 eligible--in two schools with predominantly Hispanic populations. Ethnicity and enrollment in the English-as-a-Second Language classes were recorded for each student. The rate of skin test positivity was compared for students enrolled and not enrolled in these classes.

The incidence of positive tests among Hispanic students enrolled in an English-as-a-Second-Language class was 10.6%, compared with 1.3% for Hispanic students not enrolled (relative risk 8.3, 95% confidence interval 2.92, 23.8). There was no statistically significant difference in incidence rates for non-Hispanic students (0.5%) and Hispanic students (1.3%) who were not enrolled in English-as-a-Second-Language class (relative risk 2.4, 95% confidence interval 0.27, 20.9).

School-based tuberculin screening programs targeted at students enrolled in English-as-a-Second-Language classes can be effective and are not racially discriminatory.