title: BCG, tuberculin skin-test results and asthma prevalence in school children in North London.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test whether there is any relationship between asthma prevalence and BCG immunization or tuberculin skin text reaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary school in Haringey, North London, U.K.
  
  
  METHODS
  780 children aged 11-18 years (median 13.35 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Administration of tuberculin skin text and questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diagnosis of asthma, presence of nocturnal cough, exercise-induced wheeze or wheeze with viral respiratory infections; diameter of induration with tuberculin skin text; history of BCG immunization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  57 of 629 children (8.5%) had a significantly positive Mantoux reaction (>or=15 millimeters of induration). Children with and without a history of BCG immunization did not differ significantly in prevalence of asthma diagnosis (11.8% vs 14.1%, p > 0.6), exercise-induced wheeze (16.9% vs 21.2%, p>0.4), viral induced wheeze (15.4% vs 7%, p>0.6) or nocturnal cough (32.3% vs 32.7%, p> 0.6). We also found no significant correlation of the prevalence of asthma diagnosis or symptoms with diameter of Mantoux test reaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no evidence of an effect of BCG immunization or tuberculin reactivity on the incidence of asthma in secondary school children in Haringey, North London and the exposure to tuberculosis is high in these children.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Child Health, St. Ann s Hospital, London, United Kingdom. amipahari@ukgateway.net
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pahari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lingam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014374:Tuberculin Test
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine