Screening of tuberculosis among freshmen in senior high schools in Rugao City from 2018 to 2021
Objective To investigate the screening of tuberculosis and effect of tuberculosis control interventions among freshmen in senior high schools in Rugao City,so as to provide insights into school-based tuberculosis control.Methods All data pertaining to tuberculosis screening among freshmen in senior high schools in Rugao City from 2018 to 2021 were collected,and subjects'gender,age,healthcare seeking,purified protein derivative(PPD)test and interferon-gamma release assay(IGRA)screening results,chest X-ray scanning results,clinical manifestations and prophylactic drug uses were descriptively analyzed.Results A total of 35 253 fresh-men received tuberculosis screening in senior high schools in Rugao City from 2018 to 2021,with a 3.66%prevalence rate of latent tu-berculosis infections,a 1.00%prevalence rate of strongly positive PPD tests,and a 29.41%prevalence rate of positive IGRAs.There were 397 freshmen tested strongly positive for PPD tests or positive for IGRA,with an overall positive rate of 1.12%.There were signifi-cant differences among freshmen in senior high schools during the 4-year study period in terms of the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infections(x2=11.94,P<0.05)and prevalence of strongly positive PPD tests(x2=25.76,P<0.05).The prevalence of latent tubercu-losis infections(4.10%vs.3.22%;x2=19.56,P<0.05)and strongly positive PPD tests(1.33%vs.0.66%;x2=39.28,P<0.05)was both higher among males than among females.The prevalence of latent tuberculosis infections was lower among freshmen in urban schools than in rural schools(0.52%vs.3.42%;x2=5.81,P<0.05),and the prevalence of strongly positive PPD tests was higher among freshmen in urban schools than in rural schools(1.13%vs.0.86%;x2=6.56,P<0.05).A total of 8 patients were definitively diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis,which consisted of 22.86%of all tuberculosis cases in schools and 44.44%of all tuberculosis cases in senior high schools.The proportions of prophylactic drug uses were 38.05%,56.76%,60.63%and 63.86%among freshmen in senior high schools from 2018 to 2021,with a mean proportion of 54.83%(215/397)and appearing a tendency towards a rise(x2=14.81,P<0.05).Conclusions Standardized screening of tuberculosis during the freshmen enrollment into senior high schools for identification of tuberculosis cases as early as possible and implementation of interventions against tuberculosis-infected cases are effec-tive to block the transmission of the source of tuberculosis infections,achieve a tuberculosis-free campus as soon as possible and protect teachers'and students'health.
TuberculosisSenior high schoolFreshmanScreeningLatent infection