Tuberculin

Tuberculin: allergic diagnosis of tuberculosis

Tuberculin is the general name for drugs obtained from cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and used for allergy diagnostic tests. The term "tuberculin" is often associated with the Mantoux test, which is one of the most common methods for diagnosing tuberculosis.

Tuberculin was developed in 1890 by Russian physician and bacteriologist Robert Koch. He discovered that injection of a small amount of a substance obtained from a culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis caused a characteristic reaction in infected people. This drug was named "tuberculin" after the disease it was intended to diagnose.

The main purpose of tuberculin is to diagnose tuberculosis by determining the presence or absence of a specific reaction in an individual. The method commonly known as the Mantoux test is based on this principle reaction. When performing the Mantoux test, a small amount of tuberculin is injected under the skin of the forearm using a special needle. After 48-72 hours, a papule or lump forms at the site of tuberculin injection, which may indicate the body’s response to tuberculosis infection.

It is important to note that a positive reaction to tuberculin does not mean the presence of active tuberculosis, but only indicates contact with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To clarify the diagnosis, additional studies are necessary, such as radiography, bacteriological examination of sputum, and others.

Tuberculin can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination against tuberculosis. After vaccination with BCG (a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis), the reaction to tuberculin may be positive, indicating the development of an immune response to the vaccine.

In conclusion, tuberculin is an important tool in the allergic diagnosis of tuberculosis. The Mantoux test method based on tuberculin allows you to identify contact with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and provides information for additional research. This method can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination. However, accurate interpretation of results requires a comprehensive assessment of clinical data and other laboratory tests.

Tuberculin: allergic diagnosis of tuberculosis

Tuberculin is the general name for drugs obtained from cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and used in allergic diagnostics. These drugs play an important role in detecting tuberculosis and help doctors determine the presence or absence of an allergic reaction to the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes this dangerous infectious disease.

Tuberculin is a standardized mixture of protein and non-protein components obtained from cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It contains various antigens that cause a specific allergic reaction in people infected with tuberculosis or who have had contact with this disease. Tuberculin is usually introduced into the patient's body through a small intradermal or intralymphatic injection.

After the introduction of tuberculin into the body, an allergic reaction develops if the patient has specific immune cells that react to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens. An allergic reaction to tuberculin usually manifests itself in the form of local inflammation and redness at the injection site.

The tuberculin test method, based on an allergic reaction to tuberculin, is one of the main methods for diagnosing tuberculosis. It detects the presence of a specific immune response to the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and helps doctors determine whether a patient is infected or not. If the tuberculin test is positive, doctors usually do additional tests, such as chest x-rays, microbiology tests, and clinical examinations, to confirm the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Tuberculin is also used in the tuberculosis vaccination program. The BCG vaccine (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) contains weakened live bacteria Mycobacterium bovis, which cause an allergic reaction and the development of immunity against tuberculosis. Administration of the BCG vaccine causes an allergic reaction similar to a reaction to tuberculin and promotes the formation of protective immunity against the causative agent of tuberculosis.

Although tuberculin and its use in diagnosis and vaccination have a long history, some limitations and disadvantages exist. For example, some people may have laboratory-confirmed tuberculosis but not have an allergic reaction to tuberculin. Also, some patients may experience false-positive or false-negative results due to various factors, such as immune conditions, vaccination against tuberculosis or other infections, and taking certain medications.

However, tuberculin is still widely used in the allergic diagnosis of tuberculosis and is an important tool in the fight against this disease. It allows you to identify infected patients and take the necessary measures to treat them and prevent the spread of tuberculosis.

In conclusion, tuberculin is the general name for drugs obtained from cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is used for allergic diagnosis of tuberculosis. It helps doctors detect the presence of an allergic reaction to the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and plays an important role in the diagnosis and vaccination against tuberculosis. Despite some limitations, tuberculin remains a valuable tool in the fight against this disease and contributes to improving public health.