Abstract

To determine the tuberculin skin test positivity and the factors having impact on it, 438 children from 3 central villages of Manisa province were enrolled. Participants were asked to fill a questionnaire on familial charecteristics, social and economical status, history of any lung diseases. Physical examination, chest roentgenogram and tuberculin skin test (TT) were performed. Forty percent of the children were 7 and 10, 53% were 11 and 13, and 7% were 14 and 18 years old and 48% were females. Only two cases had no BCG vaccine scar and 71% of them had 2 BCG scars. The mean induration of TT in the whole group was 3.77±5.07 mm. Socioeconomic status and hygenic condition did not have any impact on TT. The mean induration was 3.0 ±4.73 mm in females while it was 4.48±5.27 mm in males and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.002). Considering 10 mm and greater induration as positive, 79% of the cases had negative and, 21% had positive TT. The ratio of TT positivity was found to increase by age (p=0.003), and by the number of BCG scars (p=0.01). No student had active pulmonary tuberculosis. As a result, male sex and age were found to have impact on TT.