LATENT PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

PREVALENCE IN YOUNG ADULT MALES ON MMR SCREENING

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of latent pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in young adults males on MMR screening. Design: Descriptive study Place and duration of study: The study was carried out at Combined Military Hospital Kohat from January 2004 to August 2005. Material and Methods: A total of 4000 freshly inducted recruits aged between 18-23 years were subjected to MMR using an Odalka camera. Individuals with suspicious findings had a standard chest radiograph taken and on confirmation of findings they were inoculated with tuberculin and readings of Mantoux test were recorded. Results: Out of 4000 MMR films, 2.15% were judged suspicious and standard chest radiographs were taken. 1.2% showed
features suggestive of pulmonary TB. 0.175% showed non-tuberculous pulmonary findings and 0.05% showed cardiac lesions. 0.725 % chest radiographs were normal. 1.2 % suspected cases of pulmonary TB were investigated further with Mantoux test. 0.745% had strongly positive Mantoux test and were labeled as latent pulmonary TB. Conclusions: Pulmonary TB is a major health issue in our country. There is a high
prevalence of latent pulmonary TB in our asymptomatic adult population. MMR is an effective and cheap method of early detection and should be considered for mass screening of our younger population on a larger scale.