Epidemiol Health.  2017;39:e2017015. 10.4178/epih.e2017015.

An opposing view on including high school students in a latent tuberculosis infection control program in Korea

• Bae JM

• KMID: 2406619
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2017015

Abstract

The Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (KCDC) has announced a control program against latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI), for a "TB-safe country" this year with the goal of a "TB-free Korea" by 2025. The program includes high school students as one target group; however, some school health teachers and parents have expressed their opposition to this. The 2015 World Health Organization guidelines do not recommend inclusion of asymptomatic high school students in LTBI control programs. Based on this guideline, the KCDC should consider excluding this population from the program.

Keyword

Latent tuberculosis; Disease management; Antitubercular agents; Practice guidelines as topic; Risk assessment

MeSH Terms

Antitubercular Agents
Disease Management
Humans
Korea*
Latent Tuberculosis*
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Parents
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Risk Assessment
School Health Services
World Health Organization
Antitubercular Agents