Risk Factors for Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Children in New York City
- 1 May 2001
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Pediatrics
- Vol. 107 (5), 999-1003
- https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.107.5.999
Abstract
Objective.: Although identification and appropriate treatment of children with latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) is considered critical to the control and elimination of TB in the United States, there are limited data on risk factors for LTBI in pediatric populations. Methods.: To further improve targeted screening for LTBI, we performed a matched case–control study from September 1996 to December 1998. We actively surveyed 24 primary care clinics serving Northern Manhattan and Harlem twice monthly for case participants 1 to 5 years old with LTBI, defined as a child with a Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) ≥10 mm and a normal chest radiograph. Two age- and clinic-matched control participants with TSTs equal to 0 mm were enrolled per case. To determine risk factors for LTBI, a bilingual research worker reviewed the medical records of study participants and administered a questionnaire to the parents of participants. Results.: We enrolled 96 cases and 192 controls whom did not differ by age, gender, ethnicity, and race; overall, the mean age of participants was 2.9 years, 51% were male, 80% were Hispanic, and 9% black. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that contact with an adult with active TB, foreign birth, foreign travel, and a relative with a positive TST were predictive of case status. In contrast, a history of a previous negative TST proved protective and BCG immunization was not an independent risk factor for a positive TST, suggesting that boosting was not important in this population. Conclusions.: We identified several risk factors for LTBI in children that can be used to refine targeted surveillance for TB among Hispanic immigrant populations in the United States.Keywords
This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit:
- Extensive Transmission ofMycobacterium tuberculosisfrom a ChildNew England Journal of Medicine, 1999
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection after Travel to or Contact with Visitors from Countries with a High Prevalence of TuberculosisAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 1998
- Tuberculosis and Race/Ethnicity in the United StatesAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 1998
- Risk factors for pediatric tuberculosis infection and disease after household exposure to adult index cases in AlaskaThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1998
- Epidemiology of Pediatric Tuberculosis in Chicago, 1974 to 1994: A Continuing Public Health ProblemThe American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 1997
- Universal Screening for Tuberculosis Infection School's Out!Published by American Medical Association (AMA) ,1995
- The Epidemiology of Tuberculosis among Foreign-Born Persons in the United States, 1986 to 1993New England Journal of Medicine, 1995
- Childhood tuberculosis in the Bronx, New YorkThe Lancet, 1994
- Treatment of tuberculosis and tuberculosis infection in adults and children. American Thoracic Society and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 1994
- Resurgence of tuberculosis in childrenThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1992