Tuberculous patients; cross sectional study of BCG vaccination and antibody TITRE in house hold contacts of tuberculous patients

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to analyze the BCG vaccination status and compare the immune globulins levels in the household contacts of tuberculous patients with non contacts of unexposed healthy peoples. Lahore. Cross sectional study. Investigations like ESR were done and the sera of 200 persons included in the study were tested for anti tuberculous antibodies by ELISA. BCG vaccination present or absent and scars were positive or negative in both groups were included. The combined serological positivity of the household contacts was 65.8% and for non-contacts was 34.1%. BCG scars were mostly absent in the household contacts as well as in non-contacts; But statistically IgG and IgA were present significantly by higher number in the household contacts as compared to non-contacts, where as no significant difference in the IgM levels. These immunoglobulins status were compared with BCG scars in both study and control groups. The results were analyzed by SPSS version 14. Household contacts of tuberculosis patients are more susceptible to tuberculosis as compared to the non-contacts, as shown by positive and negative status of cglitjirculous antibodies in the house hold contacts. More over BCG vaccination has no significant role in humoral evaluation