Unintended Consequences: Mandatory Tuberculin Skin Testing and Severe Isonia...

WHy we need to be judicious with tb testing

 

 

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Unintended Consequences: Mandatory Tuberculin Skin Testing and Severe Isoniazid Hepatotoxicity

via PEDIATRICS current issue by Lobato, M. N., Jereb, J. A., Starke, J. R. on 6/2/08

After mandatory school-enrollment tuberculin skin testing, a 4-year-old girl who was at low risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection had severe isoniazid hepatotoxicity that was managed with a liver transplant. Although severe isoniazid hepatotoxicity is very uncommon in children, this case emphasizes the need to limit skin testing to persons who have a risk factor for infection and to educate parents on how to monitor for adverse effects during treatment.

 

 

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