[Early detection of tuberculosis and its pharmacological prevention in children from the epizootologically unfavorable territories].

The examination of 2150 children living in the epidemiologically unfavourable territories was carried out for 3 years (1988-1990) by a double Mantoux test with 2 TU PPD-L at a 6-month interval. By the end of the 3rd year primary contamination decreased by 2.8 times and local tuberculosis detection by 6.4 times. In the control group (1457 children) having the Mantoux test with 2 TU PPD-L once a year, primary contamination during the same time decreased by 1.2 times and tuberculosis detection by 1.4 times. Chemoprophylaxis was conducted in 3 groups of children: Group 1 was given only isoniazid for 3 months twice a year; group 2, isoniazid and ethambutol for 2 months once a year; and Group 3, isoniazid alone during 3 months. Chemoprophylaxis effectiveness in the epizootically unfavourable area was significantly higher when the two antibacterial drugs were used for 2 months once a year.