Tuberculin sensitivity in rural Gambian children.
A tuberculin survey was undertaken in 480 Gambian children under the age of 10 years, resident in a group of villages where BCG vaccination, shortly after birth, has been widely practised for about 5 years. Ten tuberculin units of purified protein derivative were given by needle and syringe; reactions of 3 mm or greater were considered positive. An overall tuberculin positivity rate of 59% was found which varied little with age, sex or village size. Among children who had probably not had BCG vaccination the positivity rate was about 20% with an annual increase of approximately 5%. Among children who had probably been vaccinated with BCG the positivity rate was between 60% and 80%. There was a fall in the prevalence of positivity of about 10-20% during the first year after vaccination. Thereafter, positivity rates were well maintained for at least another 5 years.
Elliott
A
A
Bradley
A K
AK
Tulloch
S
S
Greenwood
B M
BM
D000367:Age Factors; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012423:Rural Health; D012737:Sex Factors; D014374:Tuberculin Test
D001500:BCG Vaccine