Bacillus Calmette Guerin Vaccine

Bacillus Calmette Guerin Vaccine (BCG vaccine) is a vaccine that is given to provide protection against tuberculosis.

All school children in the United Kingdom are given a pre-vaccination skin test (Mantoux test) and the BCG vaccine is then administrated to those showing a negative result. The usual age for this vaccination is around 12-14 years.

Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) lymphadenitis is a well known entity. Disseminated BCG infection usually presents as generalized lymphadenopathy, skin rash and hepatosplenomegaly and at times, can pose a diagnostic challenge to clinicians.

The bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine appears to be effective in immunizing infants against tuberculosis, and should receive wider use.

Researchers reviewed published data from four randomized control trials and nine case-control studies. The BCG vaccine was generally judged effective in reducing the risk of tuberculosis, deaths from TB, and tuberculosis meningitis.

The risk of contracting TB was reduced by 74% in the trials and 52% among the case-control studies. Wider use of the BCG vaccine is being recommended because of the increase in TB cases and the development of drug-resistant.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to BCG vaccine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.