Childhood tuberculosis in North Carolina: a study of the opportunities for intervention in the transmission of tuberculosis to children

New cases of tuberculosis in children continue to appear. A retrospective review of the medical records of a representative sample of such cases occurring from 1977 through 1981 was conducted to gain an understanding of why this preventable disease continues to occur in North Carolina children. Thre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 1986-01, Vol.76 (1), p.26-30
Main Author: Nolan, R J, Jr
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Bacterial diseases
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Continental Population Groups
Epidemiologic Methods
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infant
Infectious diseases
Isoniazid - therapeutic use
Medical Records
Medical sciences
North Carolina
Retrospective Studies
Time Factors
Tuberculosis - diagnosis
Tuberculosis - epidemiology
Tuberculosis - prevention & control
Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections
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Summary:New cases of tuberculosis in children continue to appear. A retrospective review of the medical records of a representative sample of such cases occurring from 1977 through 1981 was conducted to gain an understanding of why this preventable disease continues to occur in North Carolina children. Three per cent of cases were detected by routine screening; 17 per cent were diagnosed after the child's symptomatic presentation; and 80 per cent after contact screening. However, 14 per cent of cases detected by contact screening developed disease while receiving isoniazid prophylaxis for a positive tuberculin test; and 19 per cent of cases detected by contact screening developed disease while under surveillance, but not receiving isoniazid prophylaxis, as tuberculin negative contacts of known infectious cases. Adherence to accepted recommendations for prophylaxis should reduce the childhood tuberculosis case rate.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.76.1.26