Abstract
To the Editor.— Dr. Edwards in her reply to a question (212:1219, 1970) has stated that isoniazid chemoprophylaxis is recommended for anyone of any age whose tuberculin reaction from negative to positive and that appearance of a positive reaction signals the occurrence of tuberculous infection. Thus a 62-year-old physician whose reaction converted seven months after a negative tuberculin test was advised chemoprophylaxis for one year. We have shown1,2that a tuberculin test itself converts a negative tuberculin reaction to a positive one in a substantial number of persons in the absence of tuberculous infection. Such conversions as a result of the previous tuberculin test increased in frequency with age and could be more frequent in areas with high prevalence of nonspecific sensitivity. The physician given the advice came from New York, an area from which 15% to 19% of the life-time Navy recruits gave 4-mm or larger reactions
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
