The goal is to develop and implement a systematic approach toward the understanding of the epidemiology of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Uganda. The Household Contact Study provides a framework for developing and evaluating innovative methods for diagnosis and treatment that will ultimately lead to improved control of tuberculosis in populations with a high prevalence of TB.
Objectives of Study:
- To evaluate the value of contact tracing in an area of high prevalence of tuberculosis.
- To determine factors relating to the index case and the household contacts and to identify organisms which are associated with transmission of tuberculous infection and the progression of infection to disease.
- To use DNA fingerprinting of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a molecular, epidemiologic tool to confirm the source of infection in secondary cases and to distinguish relapsed infection from re-infection in patients with recurrent disease.
- To describe the spectrum of tuberculosis in children exposed to the index case and determine the sensitivity and specificity of new diagnostic strategies such as polymerase chain reaction.
