• Yu-Hong Wang, Ye Tian, Jin-Xin Gao, Chao-Kuan Lei, Yan-Wen Liu, Zhong-Min Han, Hua Xing, Can Yan, and Le Zhou.
• Department of Medical Technology and Engineering, Zhengzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College, Zhengzhou, Henan, 451460, China.
• Afr Health Sci. 2018 Dec 1; 18 (4): 1109-1116.

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern worldwide, and spreads more easily in densely populated areas such as school campuses.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of positive TB skin tests among freshmen, i.e. newly-enrolled college students, in Zhengzhou City, China.MethodsWe reviewed the data of purified protein derivative (PPD) skin tests in 656,212 freshmen in 2004-2013.ResultsA positive test showed a diameter of swelling ≥ 5 mm. The PPD positive rate was 40.69 %, with a prevalence of 146.29 per 100,000. During the 10-year study period, the rate of students with positive PPD test increased from 34.19 % in 2004 to 40.69 % in 2013. The positive PPD rate was significantly higher in males than in females (41.68 % vs 39.61 %, P<0.0001), and in rural compared with urban areas (42.04 % vs 38.03 %, P<0.0001).ConclusionThese findings indicated a high prevalence of PPD positivity among participants during the study period, with an increasing trend. Therefore, this population needs to be targeted by TB prevention and control programs.

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