Risk of tuberculosis infection in Edirne primary schools and a review of its epidemiological indices.
The study population was defined as all first and fifth grade pupils from 17 primary schools located within Edirne Municipality. Of these 3188 pupils, aged 6-14 years, 569 had not received the BCG vaccine, and were tested for Tb with strengths of 1.3 or 5 TU PPD, and the reactions were evaluated. The annual risk of infection (AIR), a relatively new indice in Tb epidemiology, was determined in the different subgroups in which age, school grade and sex were taken into consideration. The results of each subgroup were compared with each other and with those reported in foreign countries. Global AIR was found to be 1.54 percent, a relatively very high value when compared with those reported in Syria and Egypt. The relative risk ratio was recorded as 22.4 percent in the Netherlands. Another rate parameter which is almost as important as AIR is the annual variation in AIR. In Turkey this rate has been varying annually by an average of 5% for over the past 21 years. These figures may be the result only of normal socioeconomic development rather than the effect of campaigns waged in the fight against Tb. We are convinced that under the conditions prevailing in Turkey, widespread, early vaccination with BCG is the best way to control Tb.
Saltik
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Department of Public Health, Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, Edirne.
Sungur
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I
Agun
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D000293:Adolescent; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D001500:BCG Vaccine