Is the Mantoux reaction in children always correct?

The most common method by which children are tested for tuberculosis is called Mantoux. First of all, Mantoux refers to primary measures for the prevention of tuberculosis. Based on this immunological test determine the presence or absence in the child's body of a tuberculous infection.

The test is performed with the help of the introduction of a special drug - tuberculin, which is an allergen that can cause a reaction in the sick. Tuberculin consists of a mixture of filtrates of cultures of microbacteria that died during preheating and are innocuous in nature. At the site of the injection, known under the simplified name "button", the skin begins to turn red. Skin redness is caused by a specific inflammation caused by infiltration of lymphocytes. The degree of redness will depend on whether the mycobacterium tuberculosis was already in the body or not. If there are more lymphocytes, and redness becomes bright, but Mantoux has a positive reaction in children.

However, the presence of a rod in the body does not mean that the child is sick with tuberculosis. It is possible that the positive Mantoux reaction in children is only a consequence of the previous BCG vaccination. This vaccine leaves a tubercle bacillus in the child's body, which can cause a positive response when interacting with tuberculin.

The Mantoux reaction in children is checked annually, from the moment the baby reaches the age of one year. A small disposable syringe with a thin needle introduces tuberculin under the baby's skin. It is necessary to comply with the safety measures during the immunoassay - the injection is performed by a professional nurse with the appropriate permission for vaccination, only high-quality tuberculin in a strictly defined dose can be used as a reagent.

Mantoux reaction in children is conducted in medical institutions - polyclinics and hospitals, as well as in preschool and school institutions. If you comply with all the rules established by the health care of the Russian Federation, then the procedure itself is sufficiently safe, the disease can not develop due to a properly performed Mantoux test.

After 72 hours, the condition and the size of the "button" are checked, the Mantoux reaction in children is checked. The temperature does not increase, and the baby does not suffer. The sample and the size of the "button" are determined after 72 hours.

No special disturbing symptoms are given by Mantou reaction. The norm in children varies in sizes from 0 to 1 mm, while there is no papule.

However, in some cases, the Mantoux test is positive. In this case, the size of the "button" increases to 5 mm or more. Variants of the sizes between the given limiting borders( from 2 to 4 mm) force to recognize the trial as doubtful.

Allergies, recent infectious diseases, various pathologies, excessively sensitive skin can affect the result of the Mantoux test. Children under one year do not make such a test precisely because of weak and insufficiently developed immunity, which can lead to inaccurate results.

After the injection with tuberculin, the site of the injection can not be wet for three days, it can not be smeared with greenery or sticking a sticking plaster, you can not scratch it - all these actions will also provoke the wrong result. To get the correct picture, parents should closely monitor the baby, behind the dryness of the "pugovka" place, and in case of appearance of the sore after Mantoux test, the treatment can be processed only after the assessment by the specialist doctor.

Thus, a positive reaction to the Mantoux test does not always serve as an excuse for recognizing a child as infected with tuberculosis.