Investigation of tuberculosis contacts in the tuberculosis control program of a medium-sized municipality in the southeast of Brazil in 2002.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the investigation of tuberculosis contacts enrolled in the Tuberculosis Control Program of the municipality of São José do Rio Preto, Brazil in 2002.
Methods: A descriptive study was conducted using secondary data obtained from the Tuberculosis Notification Database, as well as charts and registries compiled by the São José do Rio Preto Tuberculosis Control Program in 2002.
Results: A total of 166 household tuberculosis contacts were enrolled in the Program. Of those, 82 were male, and 84 were females. The incidence of tuberculosis was highest (70%) in the 15 to 59 age bracket: 42 (25.3%) of the cases occurred in individuals from 0 to 19 years of age; 73 (44%) in those from 20 to 49; and 44 (25.5%) in those 50 or over. In terms of their relationship with the index patient, 41 (24.7%) were children; 29 (17.5%) were partners; 22 (13.2%) were siblings, and 15 (9.1%) were mothers. The following tests were requested: (in 12%) sputum smear microscopy, culture or both; (in 100%) chest X-ray, revealing 2 suspected cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and 5 cases of other diseases; (in 7.2%) tuberculin skin test, the results of which showed that 4.2% were nonreactors, and that 1.2% presented an induration of 8 mm. Among the contacts examined, the disease was detected in 3 (1.8%).
Conclusion: There is no systematization in the monitoring of individuals who are in contact with tuberculosis patients.