Tuberculin Survey in Government High School of Dharan Municipality

Abstract

This survey was done in 682 out of 1672 children tested with Batch of Tuberculin used for Testing (PPD RT
23 with Tween 80) in Jan. 1997 with financial research grant of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences,
Dharan.
Dharan City is situated in Eastern Development Region (EDR) of Nepal where a high percentage of migrated population is residing with very high number of sputum positive cases. The majority of population
are from high hills & mountain region where the Annual Risk of Infection (ARI) is less. This survey was done
to know the epidemiological situation of Tuberculosis (TB) in Dharan.
Tuberculin survey was done in Eastern Development Region (EDR) (1994) by National Tuberculosis Centre
(NTC) / Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Saptari & Morang. The reported result of
average Annual Risk of Infection (ARI) is 2.49% & 2.38% respectively.
The mean age of surveyed population was 14.8 yrs. The Bacilli Calmette Guerin (BCG) coverage (scar rate)
was 38.3% & BCG 4 - 8 age group 83.3% was highest & it gradually decreased to 37.5% in 12 + age group.
The average 23 Tween – 8 – Batch of Tuberculin used for Testing (PPD) positive is 33.6% with 10 mm
induration as cutoff line. Annual Risk of Infection (ARI) based on above was 2.7% in 9 - 11 age group &
1.31% in 12 + age group. This survey is suggestive of tuberculosis being highly prevalent in Dharan. The
survey also showed average ARI to be 2.44% in Dharan in 10 - 15 yrs age group. The finding is suggestive of
high ARI although the populations has migrated from hill & mountain. Previous report of average ARI in
this area was 2.5% (Morang & Saptari). The survey result suggests that high priority, effective tuberculosis
program is necessary and intensive control program can only give impact to control of tuberculosis in Dharan.

Key Words: Tuberculin survey, school children, BCG coverage, ARI, Effective tuberculosis programme.