Effect of number of BCG vaccination on tuberculin induration size.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to interpret purified protein derivative (PPD) induration sizes with respect to the number of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) scars.


METHODS
We have considered 1879 school children between the ages of 7 and 14 years from seven primary schools in Kocaeli, Turkey. Children were injected with 5TU 0.1 mL PPD and induration sizes were measured at 72 h. Number of BCG scars, PPD application dates and induration sizes were recorded for each pupil. This study was also evaluated further for 312 households.


RESULTS
The mean diameter of PPD induration size for 0, 1, 2 and 3 BCG vaccination scars were 1.43 mm (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.84-2.02), 6.39 mm (95% CI: 5.91-6.87), 10.46 mm (95% CI: 10.04-10.88) and 11.35 mm (95% CI: 9.36-13.34), respectively. Furthermore, 90% and 95% percentiles of PPD induration 0, 1, 2 and 3 vaccinations were 10 and 12 mm, 16 and 19 mm, 17 and 19 mm and 19.2 and 20 mm, respectively. There was evidence for a linear trend across from 0 to 3 BCG vaccinations, indicating that mean induration size increases with the number of vaccination scars. The size of indurations directly correlated with the number of vaccination scars, PPD induration size of children with no vaccination scar was quite small and it was generally less than 5 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows the importance of the number of BCG scars in the determination of PPD induration size limit when tuberculosis infection is evaluated.
Gundogdu
Zuhal
Z
Faculty of Medicine, Child Health and Diseases, Kocaeli University, Umuttepe Campus, Kocaeli, Turkey. z.gundo@gmail.com
Aydogan
Metin
M
Arisoy
Emin Sami
ES
Gokalp
Ayse Sevim
AS
D000293:Adolescent; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D001500:BCG Vaccine