Crude mortality by size of tuberculin reaction.

Abstract

For want of adequate diagnostic facilities in underdeveloped countries, the risk associated with sensitivity to tuberculin cannot be studied by assessing the incidence of morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis among subjects with or without sensitivity to tuberculin. Crude mortality in a random sample of subjects from villages in a district in South India by size of initial tuberculin reaction did not show any difference between those who had 15 mm and larger reactions and those who had smaller tuberculin reactions, except in subjects less than 10 years old. The size of the initial tuberculin reaction that was associated with significantly greater crude mortality increased with increase in age. It is suggested that higher crude mortality associated with such tuberculin reactions was due to a higher mortality from tuberculosis among them than among subjects with smaller tuberculin reactions. Thus, to identify a group with a high risk of tuberculosis mortality, increasing size of the tuberculin reaction ...