QUANTIFIED TB EXPOSURE CAN PREDICT PREVALENT TB DISEASE IN CHILD CONTACTS

In a matched case-control study in Pakistan, we found that quantified tuberculosis (TB) exposure using a 10-point score is associated with prevalent TB disease in pediatric household contacts. A 1 unit increase in TB exposure score increased the odds of TB disease by 44% (conditional odds ratio: 1.44, 95% confidence interval: 1.33-1.56). Collecting well-documented exposure history can help TB diagnosis in resource-limited settings.