RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Interpretation of the PPD skin test in BCG-vaccinated children
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 127
OP 128
VO 113
IS 2
A1 J. H. Joncas
A1 R. Robitaille
A1 T. Gauthier
YR 1975
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/113/2/127.abstract
AB Skin testing with 5 tuberculin units (TU) of purified protein derivative (PPD) of tuberculin stabilized with polysorbate (Tween) 80 was done 3 months and 1 year after immunization with bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine in two groups of children: one group vaccinated at birth and another group at age 6 years. Interpretation of the PPD skin test with 5 TU is possible in children 1 year and older vaccinated with BCG at birth: if the diameter of induration is more than 10 to 12 mm the reaction cannot be ascribed to BCG vaccination and is highly suggestive of supervening infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or occasionally atypical mycobacteria. In contrast, the interpretation of a PPD test in children vaccinated at age 6 years is extremely difficult.