Ghulam Qasim Khan Khichi, Mohammad Saleem Channar.
Comparative study of Mantoux Test versus BCG Inoculation as a diagnostic tool for Pulmonary Tuberculosis in children upto 5 years of age.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;12(10):626-7.

Objective: To compare the response of Mantoux test versus BCG inoculation in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis in children upto 5 years of age. Design: This was quasi experimental, hospital based study. Place and Duration: Study was carried out in Pediatric Ward II of Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH), Bahawalpur over a period of two years. Subjects and Methods: This study was carried out on 100 patients of pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed according to set criteria. BCG inoculation and Mantoux test was done on each patient concurrently and their response was studied. Results: Out of 100 patients 56% were males and 44% females. In 25% of the total cases neither BCG skin test nor Mantoux test showed positive response. Results of the 45 patients were those in which both BCG skin test and Mantoux test were positive; 30 patients (30%) were only BCG skin test positive, so total BCG skin test positive patients were 75%. Conclusion: BCG inoculation was far more superior to Mantoux test as diagnostic tool in pediatric age group. Pulmonary tuberculosis study confirmed that BCG skin test was much more sensitive as well as specific as compared to Mantoux test in the detection of tuberculin allergy in patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.

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