Household-contacts of persons with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this activity, latent TB and factors associated with latent TB can be detected in family members of TB patients. The aim of this study is to find latent TB and factors associated among household-contact with TB patients. 

This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in Medan city, North Sumatra province, Indonesia. Subjects were family members who lived in the same house as drug-sensitive pulmonary TB patients and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subject data collection was carried out by interviews, chest x-ray examination, blood collection for IGRA examination and sputum examination by rapid molecular testing method if necessary. Subjects are designated as having latent TB if there are no clinical symptoms indicating TB, the chest x-ray examination results are normal or do not suggest TB and the IGRA test results are positive. The subject is determined not to have latent TB if there are no symptom indicating TB, the chest x-ray results are normal and the IGRA test results are negative. 

Results: 

Of the 102 people who had household contact with 59 TB patients, 30 people (29.41%) had latent TB and 60 people (58.82%) did not have latent TB. Most of the subjects were female (76.6%), and the Mean±SD age and body mass index (BMI) was 41.17±15.33 years and 24.65±4.72 respectively. There was no significant relationship between age, gender, education level, type of work, BMI, comorbidities, smoking, alcohol consumption and duration of contact with the incidence of latent TB (p<0.05). 

Investigating household contacts with pulmonary TB patients is very important to achieve the TB elimination target in the world and in Indonesia. Education and management of preventive TB therapy can be provided for people with latent TB.

Bintang Yinke Magdalena Sinaga is a pulmonologist, consultant of pulmonary infectious diseases. She is a lecturer at the Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia. She has conducted several research on pulmonary diseases, especially tuberculosis, which has been published in several reputable journals. She is also a frequent speaker and trainer related to tuberculosis.