PEDIATRICS Vol. 98 No. 1 July 1996, pp. 97-102
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Driver, C. R.
Right arrow Articles by Onorato, I. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Driver, C. R.
Right arrow Articles by Onorato, I. M.

Tuberculin Skin Test Screening in Schoolchildren in the United States

Cynthia R. Driver RN, MPH1, Sarah E. Valway DMD, MPH1, Michael F. Cantwell MD, MPH1, and Ida M. Onorato MD1

1 Surveillance and Epidemiologic Investigations Branch, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

Objective. To determine the current practices and results of tuberculin skin test (TST) screening of schoolchildren in the United States.

Methods. Tuberculosis program staff in all states and the District of Columbia were asked about current requirements, practices, and results of school-based TST screening.

Results. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia (69%) reported no current statewide statutes or policies for tuberculin screening of schoolchildren, and 10 (19%) reported having statewide requirements. In 6 states (12%), requirements were instituted at the local level, and 24 localities in these states were known to require screening. Of the 34 areas requiring screening, 18 (53%) screened all new entrants, 7 (21%) screened children in specific grades, and 9 (26%) used other criteria for screening. TST results were collected for 26 (76%) of 34 areas, and 6 areas collected results of follow-up evaluation of tuberculin-positive children. Additionally, 8 localities in 7 states with no screening requirements conducted tuberculin surveys. Sixteen areas provided results. In 7 of the 8 areas that collected information about birthplace, less than 2% of US-born children were tuberculin positive; foreign-born children had rates 6 to 24 times higher than US-born children. TST screening identified few cases of tuberculosis, less than 0.02% of the children screened.

Conclusion. School-based tuberculin screening identified low rates of positive TST results in US-born children. Resources should be directed toward screening children at high risk for tuberculous infection, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Advisory Committee for Elimination of Tuberculosis.

Submitted on August 28, 1995
Accepted on February 16, 1996




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 PediatricsHome page
V. J. Flaherman, T. C. Porco, E. Marseille, and S. E. Royce
Cost-effectiveness of Alternative Strategies for Tuberculosis Screening Before Kindergarten Entry
Pediatrics, July 1, 2007; 120(1): 90 - 99.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
L. J. Nelson, J. A. Jereb, and K. G. Castro
New Guidelines About Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Children and Adolescents: A Welcome Advancement
Pediatrics, October 1, 2004; 114(4): 1084 - 1086.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
Pediatric Tuberculosis Collaborative Group
Targeted Tuberculin Skin Testing and Treatment of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Children and Adolescents
Pediatrics, October 1, 2004; 114(4/S2): 1175 - 1201.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
S. Chang, L. S. M. Wheeler, and K. P. Farrell
Public Health Impact of Targeted Tuberculosis Screening in Public Schools
Am J Public Health, December 1, 2002; 92(12): 1942 - 1945.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
H. Froehlich, L. M. Ackerson, P. A. Morozumi, and the Pediatric Tuberculosis Study Group of Kaiser P
Targeted Testing of Children for Tuberculosis: Validation of a Risk Assessment Questionnaire
Pediatrics, April 1, 2001; 107(4): e54 - e54.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JAMAHome page
K. A. Hennessey, J. M. Schulte, L. Cook, M. Collins, I. M. Onorato, and S. E. Valway
Tuberculin Skin Test Screening Practices Among US Colleges and Universities
JAMA, December 16, 1998; 280(23): 2008 - 2012.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.Home page
M. N. LOBATO and P. C. HOPEWELL
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection after Travel to or Contact with Visitors from Countries with a High Prevalence of Tuberculosis
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 1, 1998; 158(6): 1871 - 1875.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
A. L. Pong, B. J. Anders, K. S. Moser, M. Starkey, A. Gassmann, and R. E. Besser
Tuberculosis Screening at 2 San Diego High Schools With High-Risk Populations
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, July 1, 1998; 152(7): 646 - 650.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]