Significance of the tuberculin skin test in pulmonary tuberculosis in Jamaica: comparisons of culture-positive, culture negative and non-tuberculous patients
West Indian med. j
; 36(4): 231-5, Dec. 1987. tab
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-67543
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
The results of tuberculin skin tests with PPDS-S done on patients with pulmonary tuberculosis seen over a three-year period (1979-1981) were compared with the results of similar tests done during the same period in a group of persons without tuberculosis. Ninety per cent of patients with culture-positive tuberculosis had positive tuberculin skin tests, compared to 83% of positive tests in the non-tuberculous group. The presence of such a large proportion of positive tuberculin reactions in persons without active disease indicates that the skin test reaction cannot be used on its own to establish the diagnosis of had negative sputum smears and cultures for acid-fast bacilli. Eighty-two per cent of these patients had positive tuberculin skin tests. Invasive diagnostic tests and newer serological diagnostic methods are likely to increase the yield of confirmed positive cases of tuberculosis in the future
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Index:
LILACS
Main subject:
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary
/
Tuberculin Test
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Caribe ingles
/
Jamaica
Language:
En
Journal:
West Indian med. j
Journal subject:
MEDICINA
Year:
1987
Type:
Article