Mantoux test reactions among children managed for tuberculosis in Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Abstract We conducted a study of Mantoux reactions in children managed for tuberculosis (TB) at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) over a period of 4 y. Of the 97 eligible children managed for various forms of TB on whom a Mantoux test was conducted, 82 (84.5%) had a negative Mantoux reaction and 15 (15.5%) had a positive reaction. No statistically significant difference was found in relation to age groups and sex between the patients with positive and negative Mantoux reactions (p = 0.602 and p = 0.484, respectively). No significant difference in Mantoux reaction was observed among BCG-vaccinated and non-vaccinated children (p = 0.321). Although malnutrition and HIV infection were significantly associated with a negative Mantoux reaction, disseminated TB was not associated. We therefore recommend proper clinical assessment and other investigations for the diagnosis of TB in children in settings with a high prevalence of HIV infection and malnutrition, as Mantoux reaction results may be unreliable.
Gofama
Mustapha Modu
MM
Department of Paediatrics, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Nigeria. mgofama@yahoo.com
Garba
Ashir Mohammed
AM
Mohammed
Alhaji Arab
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000276:immunology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*