TB appearance in chest radiography in Cambodian migrant workers in Bangkok

Sir,

Tuberculosis (TB) is a common lung infection that can be seen around the world. This infection is still the present public health problem and can be seen elsewhere around the world. High rate of infection still remains in many areas due to poor sanitation. To control this infection, screening by chest radiography (CXR) is widely used. In Thailand, CXR is indicated for screening of foreign migrant workers. Here, the author reports a single screening center (the name is blinded for privacy reason) on the rate of TB appearance in CXR among the Cambodian migrant workers in Bangkok. Within 1-month period, July 2011, there were 840 screenees in this setting and the positive result can be seen in 75 cases (8.92%).

TB distribution via migrant workers should be considered as an important problem in infectious medicine at present.[1] Thailand presently faces up the problem of remerging of TB and an important reason is due to the TB transmission by migrant workers.[2] The detected rate in this report is significantly high. This implies the necessity for management of TB from migrant workers. Indeed, this problem is already well mentioned for Mynamar migrant workers.[2] Nevertheless, the CXR screening in this situation seems to detect higher positivity comparing to that seen in screening used in general Thai population (less than 1%[3]), implying more cost effectiveness of the screening. For any setting, to control the TB in the new coming migrant workers from developing countries should be strictly done.