Mantoux test is used for?

AIIMS Delhi NO - 2017

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO - 2017

Explanation

The Mantoux test, also known as the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), is the standard method used to screen for infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
It works by detecting a delayed-type hypersensitivity immune response to proteins from the TB bacterium.
A positive test is indicated by a palpable, raised, hardened area (induration) at the injection site, which signifies that the person's body has been exposed to TB bacteria.
The test does not distinguish between latent TB infection (where the bacteria are dormant) and active TB disease (where the person is ill and infectious).

Option A: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by reversible airflow obstruction. It is diagnosed using spirometry (often with a bronchodilator challenge), peak expiratory flow monitoring, and clinical history, not a skin test for a bacterial infection.
Option B: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation. Diagnosis is confirmed by post-bronchodilator spirometry showing a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio. The Mantoux test is unrelated.
Option C: Emphysema is a type of COPD involving damage to the air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs. Like other forms of COPD, it is diagnosed with pulmonary function tests and imaging (like a chest CT scan), not the Mantoux test.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Screening and diagnostic tests for infectious diseases as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a critical role in the TB screening process, including administering the test with the correct intradermal technique, educating the patient on when to return for the reading, and accurately measuring and documenting the induration.
It is crucial to differentiate between induration (the hardened part) and erythema (redness), as only the induration is measured for interpretation.
A patient's history of receiving the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine must be considered, as it can cause a false-positive Mantoux test reaction. In such cases, an Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test may be preferred.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'Mantoux test'.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge about common diagnostic and screening tests in nursing.
Recall that the Mantoux test is specifically associated with an infectious disease, not chronic non-infectious conditions.
Evaluate the options. Asthma, COPD, and emphysema are chronic respiratory diseases diagnosed by pulmonary function tests.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by a bacterium. The Mantoux test is the classic skin test for it.
Select the option that correctly links the test to the disease: tuberculosis.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 25-27

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1458-1460