RESUMO
The specific features of immunological responsiveness were studied in 124 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT)-infected children aged 7-14 years in relation to the ecological characteristics of their living area. All the children had early primary tuberculosis infection. The MBT-infected children were found to have first-degree secondary immunodeficiency. The latter was most pronounced in the dwellers of industrial areas, who had T-lymphocytic deficiency, the impaired supopulational composition of T cells, their diminished functional activity, an increased response to specific antigen, as well as dysimmunoglobulinemia, elevated levels of circulating immune complexes. The hyposuppressor types of cellular immunodeficiency and total T lymphopenia were observed in children living in the ecological crisis area. Superinfection and concomitant diseases create conditions for the progression of secondary immunodeficiency and for the development of severe forms of the disease.
