[Yield of active search of tuberculosis in a marginal population].

Objectives: A prevalence study on tuberculosis infection among school-children in our area. A study of the family, contacts and teachers of infected children. An analysis of the level of compliance with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Design: Observational and descriptive. Clinical-epidemiological.
Setting: An urban Basic Health Area with 18,000 inhabitants.
Patients and Other Participants: 393 people were included in the study: 162 school-children doing first-year EGB [c. six years old], 199 family members and contacts of the infected children and 32 EGB teachers.
Measurements and Main Results: Mantoux intradermoreaction. Application of the study procedure. Following of the evolution and monitoring of the treatment. We found 6 infected children (3.7% of the school-children), all of whom came from the same marginalised area. Among the 231 family members, contacts and teachers studied, we found 30 cases of active Tuberculosis (13%) and 71 cases of infection (30.7%). Antituberculous treatment was indicated for all cases of illness and secondary Chemoprophylaxis for 49 cases. The study could not be completed in 62 cases.
Conclusions: The prevalence of tuberculous infection among school-children from the marginalised area is high. Examination of the infected childrens' contacts showed a high level of tuberculous infection. Follow-up of the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures was incomplete for a significant percentage of those under study.