High rates of tuberculosis infection among children from Ciutat Vella District, Barcelona, 1996-1997.
With tuberculosis (TB) rates of over 160/100,000 in 1997, Ciutat Vella District, Barcelona, is the main community focus of TB in the city. For the purpose of TB screening, 415 children >2 years old from that district received a tuberculin skin test (TST); 27 (6.6%) (95%CI 4.5-9.3) were found to be infected but disease-free. The frequency of a positive TST increased significantly with age, from 0% in the 2-4 year age group to 14.6% in 10-14 year olds. Three culture-positive source adults, two of them sputum smear-positive, who were not previously known were traced from six TST-positive children. Previous BCG vaccination was not associated with a positive TST. These data support the use of universal TST screening in children living in Ciutat Vella District, Barcelona, as a means of identifying and treating TB cases.
Vall Mayans
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Directorate of Primary Health Care, Area Bàsica de Salut Gòtic, DAP Ciutat Vella, Catalan Health Institute, Barcelona, Spain. cvuts02@sapbcn.scs.es
Besora
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R
Estabanell
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A
Abril
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Cruz
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C
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population