Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by an organism called Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. It is a disease that mainly affects the lungs but it can affect any organ of the human body except nails and hair. Its impact on world health remains significant and sadly it accounts for nearly 1.5 million deaths per year. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test is one of the standard methods of determining whether an immune competent person is exposed to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.
The principle behind this investigation is called a Delayed Hypersensitivity Reaction, which is an immune reaction. In practice, the health care provider injects a solution called “Tuberculin” intradermal to the anterior aspect of the left forearm and that will trier an immune reaction. Patients who are undergoing this procedure should know about what not to do after performing a tuberculin test.
[Read – Side Effects of Latent TB Treatment]
The test is performed preferably during the day time, either as an outpatient or an inward patient. Patients should be informed that the tuberculin agent contains no live organism, so there is no chance of developing the disease as a post-procedure complication. If the patient is an outpatient, it is important to educate about what not to do after the test. There are only a minimum number of side effects they can experience.
[Read – What Are Positive and Negative TB Skin Tests]
There are many factors that affect the results of the Mantoux Test. The test can have false positives as well as false negatives. False negatives are seen in immunosuppressed patients and in the wrong technique of reading the result. False positives can be due to previous tuberculosis infection, BCG vaccination or wrong technique of interpreting the results.
The redness appearing after one week of the test could be a delayed reaction indicating a positive test but there is a lack of firm evidence. When administrating the tuberculin solution, it should be injected intradermally. In addition to the quality of the equipment and outdated tuberculin solution, incorrect administration technique of the tuberculin solution can lead to a redness appearing after one week.
Before performing the test, the patient should be explained about the procedure, the reason for doing it and the information regarding the illness which can be gained at the end. After performing the test it is always the clinician’s responsibility to educate the patient regarding the things which should be and should not be done after a tuberculin test.
Dr. Chauturi is an experienced writer specializing in English language and Medical Sciences, and degree holder in Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at University of Sri Jayewardenepura currently awaiting her internship.
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