Tuberculosis infection prevalence in 11 to 14 years old adolescents in Palencia

Introduction: the tuberculosis infection is still a pending subject for the Spanish Public Health System, with bigger figures than we could expect for our level of development. Objectives: to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis infection in young teenagers in the health area of Palencia. Patients and methods: 360 adolescents were studied between the ages of 11 to 14 in the province of Palencia. Their clinic histories were revised and a short questionnaire was carried out in order to detect risk factors that were unnoticed in the clinic history. Results: the global prevalence of the tuberculosis infection was 2,5% but in patients without risk factors it was only 0,87%. The only outstanding risk factor was the previous contact with an affected adult with active tuberculosis. The contact with an adult having a chronic cough in the coalfield of Guardo may also be a factor of risk. The infected children had a higher average age than the other children but they were not different in relation to the other factors studied. Conclusions: the prevalence of tuberculosis infection is less than 1%, for this reason the active search for children without risk factors has been rejected. The necessity to increase the control of the infection is considered in every respect.