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Raj Narain, MBBS, TDD
Bangalore, India

JAMA. 1970;214(3):597.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

Dr. Edwards in her reply to a question (212:1219, 1970) has stated that isoniazid chemoprophylaxis is recommended for anyone of any age whose tuberculin reaction converts from negative to positive and that appearance of a positive reaction signals the occurrence of tuberculous infection. Thus a 62-year-old physician whose reaction converted seven months after a negative tuberculin test was advised chemoprophylaxis for one year.

We have shown^1,2 that a tuberculin test itself "converts" a negative tuberculin reaction to a positive one in a substantial number of persons in the absence of tuberculous infection. Such conversions as a result of the previous tuberculin test increased in frequency with age and could be more frequent in areas with high prevalence of nonspecific sensitivity. The physician given the advice came from New York, an area from which 15% to 19% of the life-time Navy recruits gave 4-mm or larger reactions . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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