Expert Ministry of Health refuted the need for Mantoux test for children over 7 years

The expert of the Ministry of Health of Russia Irina Vasilyeva made a sensational statement. She said that There is no need to conduct a Mantoux test for children who have already turned 7. Since last year, Diaskintest for tuberculosis has been held for seven-year-old children and older children.

Irina Vasilyeva is the chief freelance physician of the country’s Ministry of Health.

The test quickly answers the question of whether a child is infected with a tubercle bacillus or not. If there is an infection, it does not make sense to vaccinate a child, if there is no infection, they vaccinate at the age of seven, after which there is no reason to make a Mantoux test.

Mantoux test, which is carried out today, often gives false positive and false negative results. For example, a "button" can give a positive result in the period of exacerbation of a banal allergy in a child.

Diaskintest is more specific and accurate.. That is why parents are urged to insist on holding it if the child is already 7 years old or more.

In September, a vaccination campaign was launched in Russian schools - children are vaccinated against the flu. According to the established practice, a Mantou test is carried out for about a week before this vaccination.