TUBERCULOUS PATIENTS;

CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY OF BCG VACCINATION AND ANTIBODY TITRE IN HOUSE HOLD CONTACTS OF TUBERCULOUS PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the BCG vaccination status and compare the immune globulins levels in the
household contacts of tuberculous patients with non contacts of unexposed healthy peoples. Place: Gulab Devi Hospital, Post Graduate
Medical Institute and Defense Housing Authority Lahore. Study design: Cross sectional study. Materials and Methods: Investigations
like ESR were done and the sera of 200 persons included in the study were tested for anti tuberculous antibodies by ELISA. BCG
vaccination present or absent and scars were positive or negative in both groups were included. Results: The combined serological
positivity of the household contacts was 65.8% and for non-contacts was 34.1%. BCG scars were mostly absent in the household
contacts as well as in non-contacts; But statistically IgG and IgA were present significantly by higher number in the household contacts as
compared to non-contacts, where as no significant difference in the IgM levels. These immunoglobulins status were compared with BCG
scars in both study and control groups. The results were analyzed by SPSS version 14. Conclusions: Household contacts of tuberculosis
patients are more susceptible to tuberculosis as compared to the non-contacts, as shown by positive and negative status of
antituberculous antibodies in the house hold contacts. More over BCG vaccination has no significant role in humoral evaluation.