An Audit of Tuberculin Skin Testing Among Nigerian Children in a Tertiary Health Facility in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: This study objective was to describe the indications for the use of Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST) and the results in order to provide information that may be useful in defining the role of TST in the investigation and control of childhood tuberculosis.

Methodology: Through a Prospective cross-sectional study an audit of TSTs carried out over a one year period (2015-2016) in a tertiary hospital was done. The indications for the TST were extracted as well as the TST readings.

Results: Of the 1276 TST requests, 279(21.9%) were for children. Majority 112(40.1%) of the tests were carried out to investigate suspected cases of tuberculosis. The TST readings ranged between 0 and 20mm. Up to 68.2% (176) were negative (0-4mm). Majority 13(41.9%) of those with positive results (>10mm) were being investigated for tuberculosis. Of those diagnosed with tuberculosis 50% had a positive result.

Conclusion: TST is useful in providing supportive evidence for a diagnosis of tuberculosis. It is also useful in identifying children at school entry who are infected and may benefit from prophylaxis.