TUBERCULIN TESTING IN A SECONDARY-SCHOOL IN MONTREAL FOLLOWING A CASEOF PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

We planned a tuberculin testing in a secondary school, following stude nt exposure to a fellow student suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. A first group of 71 students for whom exposure seemed greater, had an intradermal Mantoux test. Of these 71 students, 18 (25.3%) had a grea ter-than-or-equal-to 5 mm reaction; 52 went through a second test thre e months later, six of whom had a greater-than-or-equal-to 5 mm reacti on. In light of the results of the screening in this first group, the tuberculin testing was offered to a second group of 108 students. In t his second group, the result of the skin test was greater-than-or-equa l-to 5 mm for 10 (9.3%) students. Out of 179 students, 34 (19.0%) had a significative reaction. A greater-than-or-equal-to 5 mm reaction was significantly associated with being male, being born outside of Quebe c and being a member of the first group screened.