Mantoux allergy

Allergy to Mantoux is not a myth. It is a fact that has been proven by more than one generation of moms and dads. But do not rush to write angry letters to your local clinic. If your child has an allergy to Mantoux, do not rush to conclusions. This article will help you understand what the main problem is.

Is there an allergy to the Mantoux test?

The Mantoux test is a method of preventing tuberculosis in children under 14 years of age. Most parents think that the Mantoux test is a tuberculosis vaccination. The answer is incorrect. The Mantoux test is given to children aged 12 months to 14 years. The frequency of Mantoux tests depends on whether someone in the family has tuberculosis or whether the child has contact with carriers of the disease. For children who are not in any risk groups, the Mantoux test is given annually. Those in contact with carriers are tested twice a year. Those who have constant contact with tuberculosis patients have the Mantoux test given once every 3-4 months. Can children who have never had contact with carriers of the disease develop an allergy to the Mantoux test? Yes, of course. And this is influenced by many factors. An allergy to the Mantoux test can occur even in healthy children who were vaccinated at birth. Heredity and predisposition to various allergens play a role here.

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Causes of Mantoux allergy

Most of us were given the BCG vaccine at birth. This is a vaccination against tuberculosis infection. Surprisingly, it happens that the tuberculosis bacillus, which is vaccinated against with this vaccine, can remain in the child's body. There is nothing to worry about. The tuberculosis bacillus does not harm the small body in any way. In the process of determining whether a child has a tuberculosis infection, tuberculin is injected subcutaneously into the body. The reaction to this substance is almost always the same. At the site where the tuberculin is injected, a pimple appears, it is called a button. The button must be properly cared for, not allowed to come into contact with water for several days, not scratched, not squeezed by clothing. Then the reaction is normal, the button slightly increases in size, the redness remains and goes away 5-6 days after the injection. When checking, the doctor always looks at the size of the button itself. After the first test, the doctor enters data on the reaction size into the child's medical record, and the size of the next reaction will always be compared with the previous one (Mantoux test dynamics). If the dynamics of the button increase does not exceed 5 mm, rest assured. If it so happens that the reaction is positive:

1. The button has grown greatly in size;
2. A fever appeared;
3. Cough, nausea, or vomiting;
4. Weakened organism.

Do not rush to drag your child to a TB specialist and therapist and start treatment for tuberculosis. Perhaps your child is simply allergic to Mantoux. The causes of allergy to Mantoux can be different. In addition, hundreds of factors can influence a positive test result. Your family doctor can individually determine the causes of allergy to Mantoux. By excluding the tuberculosis infection itself, breaking the connection between tuberculin and BCG vaccination. There are a number of contraindications for which the Mantoux test should not be performed - skin diseases, epilepsy, allergic diseases in the acute stage, any infectious diseases. Without knowing this, the doctor can perform the Mantoux test. Because of which the Mantoux allergy itself occurs.

Allergy after Mantoux

An allergy after the introduction of tuberculin into the body may manifest itself already in the evening, on the day of the injection. If the child's reaction to Mantoux is normal and the button is properly cared for, there should be no allergic reaction. The child continues to feel well, eats, sleeps and is awake normally. If you notice something unusual in the behavior or well-being of the baby, analyze:

1. Has your child had any infectious diseases in the last month?
2. Has he been in contact with carriers of the disease (tuberculosis)?
3. Does your child have a predisposition to allergies?
4. Was the button properly cared for?

An allergy after Mantoux may also be due to the fact that the substance that is introduced into the body, in addition to tuberculin, also contains Phenol. This is a toxic substance. In small quantities, phenol is safe. But if the child is intolerant to this substance, you are guaranteed an allergy.

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Symptoms of Mantoux allergy

Symptoms of Mantoux allergy in a child can appear suddenly. They can easily be confused with ordinary heat rash, shortness of breath, or a cold. But be careful. Allergy after Mantoux can be accompanied by:

• high body temperature;
• skin rashes;
• loss of appetite;
• general muscle weakness;
• anaphylaxis.

Skin rashes may appear not only at the injection site or around it. Pimples, or even blisters, may appear on the most delicate areas of the skin - in the groin, on the buttocks, under the knees, on the inside of the elbow and on the face. The skin may be dry, flaky, and itchy.

Mantoux test for allergies

If the diagnosis is correct - an allergy to the Mantoux test - then the therapist can prescribe other methods for detecting tuberculosis infection. The Mantoux test for allergies is usually not performed so as not to aggravate the existing one. If you want to find out about the presence of tuberculosis infection in the child's body, the tuberculosis dispensary will help you with the method of detection. You can do a fluorography, sputum analysis. Mantoux is not a panacea. It is just the fastest method for preventing tuberculosis in children.

Treatment of Mantoux allergy

Like any other allergy, an allergy to the Mantoux test is not curable. It is possible and necessary to stop this manifestation of the child's body. If you still decide to do another Mantoux test, make sure that two or three days before the test, the child takes antihistamines. This can be the antihistamine Zyrtec or Zodak. Taking one of these drugs will significantly ease the course of the Mantoux reaction for the child. Just do not forget to warn the doctors who will conduct the test about which antihistamine your child took. The dosage can be determined by a family doctor, therapist or allergist.

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What to do if you have an allergy to Mantoux?

If you notice any signs of allergy in your baby, hurry to show him to the doctor. Especially if the child has not had an allergy to anything before. The above symptoms may not match the way your child's allergy manifests itself. Children's organisms are so different that someone may have a headache, and that's all, while someone may have endless vomiting and insomnia. Your family doctor will tell you what to do with an allergy to the Mantoux test. If you are experiencing an allergy more than once, follow the instructions your doctor gives you. First, rule out the possibility of "not an allergy." Headache due to TV, fever due to a cold, etc. Then give your child half a Diazolin tablet. It will help relieve an allergic reaction, even a skin reaction. If the allergy is accompanied by difficulty breathing, call an ambulance. And as soon as possible. There is no time to waste here.

What to do if a child is allergic to Mantoux?

If you have definitely determined that your child is allergic to Mantoux, be careful. This means that the child is predisposed to a positive reaction to various allergens. It is worth consulting with an immunologist or allergist about the impact of other allergens.

Prevention of allergy to Mantoux

Prevention of allergies to Mantoux is possible at home. Since the Mantoux test is an immune response to an irritant, work on strengthening your child's immunity. The healthier your baby is, the easier it will be for him to tolerate the Mantoux test. It would be reasonable to listen to the opinions of different doctors, an immunologist, a therapist, an allergist, about the need for a Mantoux test every year. After all, the best prevention of allergies is to exclude the possibility of an allergen entering the body. In this case, the allergen is tuberculin. Get tested for tuberculosis in other ways, and you will protect your child from the possibility of allergies.

Allergy to Mantoux is no more than a common allergy, it can be cured. Write to your local clinic, kindergarten, or school refusing to have your child have the Mantoux test. If there is a risk of contracting tuberculosis, get checked regularly at your local tuberculosis dispensary. And check your children.

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