[CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL FEATURES IN CHILDREN WITH A TUBERCULIN TEST CONVERSION IN RELATION TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTACT WITH A BACTERIA-EXCRETING PERSON].

Abstract

Active tuberculosis infection is most likely to occur within the first year since the entry of M. tuberculosis (MBT) into the human organism. Contact duration is one of the determinants of the outcome of the meeting of MBT and a macroorganism. Patients with chronic infection foci and/or immune system dysfunction have been the particular concern of medical workers. The impaired defense system from alien information can lead to the development of tuberculosis. The repertoire of immunocompetent cells and interleukins in children with a tuberculin test conversion from epidemiological foci is similar to that in those with active tuberculosis. According to immunological characteristics, the patients with a tuberculin test conversion without an established contact differ from those with tuberculosis and children with a conversion and a contact with a bacteria-excreting person. They had an allergic constitution, which manifested itself as the higher frequency of allergic dermatosis. This fact resulted in mixed allergic reactions, which enlarged papulae during tuberculin diagnosis.