How does BCG heal: what is normal and what is not?

How long does the BCG vaccine take to heal?

It is possible to notice the body's reaction to the administered vaccine only after a few weeks. The vaccination reaction can last more than 4-5 months . If a pustule with suppuration appears at the injection site, do not panic - this reaction is within normal limits.

Over the course of several more months, the vaccination site will undergo changes. How long does the BCG vaccination take to heal? It will take about a year for a scar to appear, indicating a correctly administered vaccination and developed immunity, but the duration of the process may vary for different children. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body and other factors.

Associated symptoms

If the BCG vaccine turns red, the following accompanying symptoms may appear:

Formation of an abscess at the injection site. This is considered a normal reaction of the immune system to fight pathogenic agents. Sometimes vaccination leaves a scar that extends beyond the injection site. Such a reaction is also considered normal. This is how the skin reacts to the vaccine. Redness of the scar can be observed for six months. In some cases, this symptom goes away within a week.
Swelling. Sometimes parents notice that the child’s vaccination site is slightly swollen. A similar symptom is present for 2-3 days, after which it disappears spontaneously. After 1.5 months, inflammation begins, followed by the appearance of scar changes. Redness and swelling should not spread over large areas. If a hyperergic reaction occurs, the child should be shown to a TB specialist.
Abscess. Mothers are worried if their child’s BCG vaccine turns red and an abscess appears. With an adequate course of the post-vaccination reaction, after 2 months a small abscess forms, which becomes covered with a crust and scars. If the abscess forms again, the injection site could become inflamed due to the penetration of bacteria. In this case, specific treatment is required. You cannot intentionally remove the crust. Later it goes away on its own, the wound scars.
Itching. If your baby's injection site is itchy, don't worry. Itching is a sign of healing of damaged skin. You cannot scratch the injection site; it must be covered with a sterile bandage. Mittens are put on the child's hands.
Temperature change. If the temperature does not exceed 38° C and the fever is present for 1-2 days, we are talking about a normal reaction of the body to the vaccine. The immune system begins to fight the infectious agent and produce antibodies. If fever persists for 3 days or more, you should consult a doctor.
Inflammation of the lymph nodes. During the normal course of the early post-vaccination period, the lymph nodes increase to 1 cm. This indicates an immune response to foreign bacteria. A pronounced increase and prolonged inflammation of the lymph nodes is observed when the tuberculosis pathogen spreads in the body, which requires immediate initiation of treatment.

The healing process is normal: in the first weeks and thereafter

If the drug is administered correctly and there are no contraindications at the time of vaccination, the healing period should proceed without complications. How does BCG heal? The whole process looks like this:

After administration of the drug, a papule forms at the injection site. Its color can vary from white to red-violet. Adjacent areas of skin on the arm should remain normal color. A rise in body temperature after vaccination is also considered normal.
After about 30-45 days, the injection site begins to turn red.
Next, a blister appears, filled with liquid and purulent contents, resembling an inflamed pimple.
Pus begins to flow out of the wound and forms again.

It is strictly forbidden to scratch a purulent ulcer, squeeze out pus, or treat with antiseptic ointments.

The peak of suppuration is followed by the formation of a crust. It cannot be disturbed or disrupted.
After a few months, the healing process ends and a small scar forms at the vaccination site, which indicates that the vaccination was effectively carried out.

The duration of the healing process directly affects the degree of acquired immunity. The more time has passed from the moment of vaccination to the formation of a scar, the stronger the immunity. This is also evidenced by the size of the scar.

Complications

Complications after BCG can occur even in those people for whom this vaccination was not prohibited for any reason. Regional lymphadenitis is considered a normal phenomenon: the lymph node located near the site of vaccine administration increases to 1 cm in diameter, a compaction appears at the site of vaccination, and a papule is formed that remains for up to 2 weeks (after which a small scar appears in its place). Complications often develop when instructions are not followed, indications for vaccination are ignored, etc.

Temperature

An increase in temperature after BCG vaccination is not considered a pathological manifestation if it goes away on the first day. It may appear the next day or within a few hours after the drug is administered to the body. The use of medications is necessary only when the indicator rises to 38°C or more. If the temperature remains elevated for more than 2 days, it is recommended to consult a doctor. At home, to combat this side effect, drink plenty of fluids.

If there is no temperature at all after BCG, the reaction is not considered good: there is a high probability that the child has not developed immunity to Koch’s bacillus.

Why does the vaccination site fester?

Suppuration can occur if the injection technique is incorrect. If the BCG vaccination festers, it is necessary to urgently begin treatment: purulent processes can spread. Often such a reaction develops due to a cold abscess. If such a complication of BCG vaccination occurs, you need to take action as soon as possible and consult a doctor.

Cold abscesses

Cold abscess after BCG is a side effect in which an abscess occurs, there are no other pronounced manifestations (temperature, redness, swelling, symptoms of intoxication). The complication does not immediately manifest itself aggressively; At first, you can only see a small wound at the injection site. Externally, it can manifest itself differently in each person, depending on the individual characteristics of the body.

Within 2-3 days after administration, you can observe that the BCG vaccination has turned red and slightly swollen. Then, however, such manifestations disappear, and within 1-1.5 months there are no manifestations of the pathological process. Then a papule appears, quickly turning into an abscess. It can break out in different ways. Normally, the neoplasm looks like a pimple, a capsule with clearly visible purulent contents. It reaches 1-1.2 cm in diameter.

For small suppurations, there is no need to worry. Their occurrence is considered a variant of the norm, a natural reaction of the body. If the size of the abscess is too large, the skin around the BCG injection site turns red, secondary infection or mechanical damage caused by improper insertion of the needle is possible. In such a situation, you will need the help of a specialist. BCG does not often fester; A similar complication is more often observed during the first vaccination than during revaccination.

Other

Lymphadenitis is considered normal if the diameter of the lymph node does not exceed 1 cm. In situations where, due to inflammation, the size is too large, you will have to consult a doctor. Sometimes surgery may be required.

Sometimes after BCG the consequences appear in the form of an ulcer that occurs at the site of insertion of the syringe. Keloids (areas of scar tissue that grow in the area where the vaccine was administered) also appear.

A rarer side effect of BCG is osteitis, an inflammatory process that develops in bone tissue. Bone tuberculosis is considered a more dangerous pathology. The pathology manifests itself 1-3 years after the introduction of weakened microorganisms and is difficult to treat.

After vaccination with BCG, an allergic reaction may result. A skin rash appears, and general symptoms of intoxication are noted (weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, increased fatigue; young children can become capricious and whiny). If a similar reaction to BCG was treated in an infant, at an older age they refuse the vaccine.

BCGit is also rarely observed.

Manifestations of erythema nodosum are possible. This pathology is characterized by the appearance of painful, swollen nodes on the body, a general asthenic state, and an increase in body temperature (low-grade fever is more often observed, and high temperature is less common).

Granuloma annulare is also manifested by the appearance of nodes. They are small in size (about 3-4 mm in diameter), high density, and often merge into rings.

Possible development of lupus. A specific rash appears on the limbs and face. In addition, there are joint pains and a general deterioration in well-being. Anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia develop.

Photos of healing by month

It is important for mothers to know what the vaccination site should normally look like some time after vaccination. Photos by month will help you figure this out and not panic prematurely. In about a month you will see this picture:

The color may also be lighter or darker.

After two months, the picture changes and with the appearance of an abscess, many mothers fall into panic. But this reaction is quite normal and correct.

As it heals, the scab will fall off and the healing process will end with the formation of a scar.

The duration of each stage may differ slightly for different children, but the sequence is always maintained.

Cases when BCG vaccination is prohibited

There are also contraindications to vaccinations. Vaccination is prohibited for the following categories of patients:

children whose families have hereditary or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;
infants who have brothers or sisters who have seriously suffered the consequences of BCG vaccination;
newborns with congenital fermentopathy;
newborns with severe hereditary diseases (dauntism);
newborns with severe central nervous system lesions (cerebral palsy).

The BCG vaccine is a weakened strain of the tuberculosis virus specially bred in the laboratory, which does not cause infection, but allows the child's immature body to develop immunity against this dangerous disease.

To prevent tuberculosis in children, mandatory BCG vaccination is required. This vaccine does not prevent infection with tuberculosis, but it does protect against the infection becoming diseased (in 70% of vaccinated people) and almost completely protects children from all severe forms of tuberculosis. The use of BCG vaccination has significantly reduced the risk of tuberculosis in children.

For many years now, many forms of tuberculosis have not been observed in vaccinated children.

Possible deviations and complications in healing

Vaccination against tuberculosis can be carried out in violation of the drug administration technique, which leads to deviations in the healing process. For example, if too much purulent fluid is produced, it may be suspected that the nurse administered the vaccine subcutaneously rather than intradermally.

The absence of suppuration can also be considered a deviation from the norm. This means that the vaccine is injected too deep into the layers of the skin and an abscess is formed there. This condition is more dangerous because it can provoke the development of an abscess.

Most children tolerate the vaccine normally and end up with the formation of stable immunity against tuberculosis, but complications also occur. They are most often characteristic of children who have a congenital decrease in immunity, for example, if the mother is HIV-infected.

Possible complications include the following:

Abscess formation when the vaccine is administered too deeply. In such situations, surgical intervention is required.
Formation of a large ulcer at the injection site. This indicates an increased sensitivity of the body to the components of the drug. Local therapy will be required.
When mycobacteria spread to the lymph nodes, an inflammatory process develops in them. If there is an increase of more than a centimeter, then surgical treatment is required.
At the site of vaccination, it is not a scar that forms, but a keloid scar. In such situations, repeated vaccination at 7 years of age is not given.
In case of severe immune disorders, a generalized BCG infection develops in the child’s body.
After 1-2 years, there is a danger of developing bone tuberculosis with a weak immune system.

Sometimes scar formation does not occur after vaccination. This may indicate that immunity has not been formed or the vaccine was administered incorrectly.

Sometimes the absence of a scar is associated with innate immunity against tuberculosis.

In such situations, Mantoux is given; if a negative result is obtained, the vaccination is repeated.

What should be the body's reaction to BCG?

The BCG drug provokes an allergic reaction in the body: T-lymphocytes accumulate under the skin, which begin to fight the causative agents of tuberculosis, which is why a corresponding reaction develops on the part of the skin. The vaccine is injected strictly into the inner layers of the skin (in no case subcutaneously), after which a white flat papule with a diameter of about 10 mm is formed at the injection site, which resolves after 18–20 minutes - this means that the drug was administered correctly.

In the first days, any changes in the skin at the site of vaccine administration are not noticeable, but sometimes slight redness, thickening or inflammation of the skin may form - this is considered normal.

It is important to note that such reactions can continue for 2-3 days, after which the injection site (before the formation of a papule and scar) should not differ in appearance from the surrounding tissue

When appears

About a month after the injection (depending on the individual reaction), a small papule appears at the injection site, which looks like a blister with slight suppuration.

This is a normal reaction and indicates that the vaccination was successful, the body “gets acquainted” with the pathogens of the disease and develops immunity.

In some cases, the formation of a papule and its healing is accompanied by severe itching, but scratching it is strictly prohibited so as not to introduce an infection under the skin. Sometimes a person may have a slight fever, but if the numbers on the thermometer do not rise above 37-38, there is no need to worry.

Three months after vaccination, the papule becomes covered with crusts and heals, and in its place an even white scar appears, sometimes with a pink or reddish tint. The size of the scar can be different and depends on the individual characteristics of the body and the quality of the formed immunity. The best option is a scar with a diameter of 7 to 10 mm. The formation of a scar of less than 4 mm indicates that vaccination has not achieved its goal and anti-tuberculosis immunity is absent.

Important! There are certain rules for caring for the injection site of the BCG vaccine - the resulting papule should not be lubricated with antiseptics, pus should be squeezed out of it, crusts should be removed or tightly wrapped with a bandage

Deviations from the norm: photo

The most common abnormality after BCG vaccination is the absence of any reaction. The absence of a papule and scar at the injection site indicates that the vaccine has expired or the body has not responded to its administration by developing anti-tuberculosis immunity. In this case, a tuberculin test (Mantoux) and repeated administration of the vaccine are necessary.

Photo 2. Usually after an injection a papule is formed - a blister with suppuration. This is normal, a deviation from the norm is the absence of any reaction at all.

In some cases, a scar forms after vaccination, but then suddenly disappears - this indicates the disappearance of anti-tuberculosis immunity, and requires revaccination of the person. Approximately 2% of people on the planet have innate immunity against tuberculosis, so they also do not form a scar - the presence of such immunity can also be determined using the Mantoux test.

Photo 3. The graft site may become very red. If this is not too pronounced, there is no reason to worry.

? Photo 4. A child’s temperature that is not too high after BCG is normal; there is no need to call a doctor.

Other reactions from the skin and the whole body (severe redness, thickening, temperature) occur due to the characteristic characteristics of the human body or sensitivity to the drug, and, as a rule, do not require medical intervention. If they are expressed too strongly, consultation with a specialist is necessary.

Reference! In some cases, the scar after the administration of the BCG vaccine is formed not on the surface of the skin, but in the deeper layers. Its presence can be determined by a change in skin color and slight thickening.

What to do if BCG does not heal?

The healing process is long and the duration may vary for each baby. Some mothers panic if after three months a festering wound remains, there is redness and the baby periodically has a fever.

The whole process can take up to one year, and if the BCG does not heal after a long time, then you should see a doctor. In some babies, suppuration may end with the formation of a crust, and then begin again with renewed vigor. Most often this is within the normal range and no intervention is required. Sometimes the cause of this condition is infection getting into the wound and scratching it. To avoid this, you can cover the injection site with a napkin.

Mommies should worry if more than six months have passed, and the completion of the scarring process is not even visible. The vaccination site looks very inflamed, there is an extensive abscess. In such situations, you should not do anything on your own; it is better to visit a pediatrician who will find out the reasons for the long healing process and tell you what to do.

Now mothers themselves have the right to decide whether to vaccinate their baby or not. But we must always remember that by refusing vaccination, the child’s health is at great risk. It is better to experience some inconvenience after vaccination than to then deal with long and difficult treatment for tuberculosis.

When does BCG begin to fester in a child?

Everyone puts the second

000 people. These

in other words, the effectiveness of tuberculosis and other BCG vaccine exists in forms, such as The BCG vaccine preparation is not scary, just products in the diet, an objective reason - BCG - vaccination against - bone tuberculosis, such conditions, with the formation of a scar ending. After some time, the injection site is formed again (in a 7-year-old, the rest of the vaccines. When the data can be obtained, they are the same. very dangerous conditions, used since 1921 meningitis and disseminated from various subtypes

tell me about it

everything for him is the causative agent of tuberculosis with tuberculosis - a disease that develops through which serious development occurs during the period after administration. Many only have a red bubble at age), the vaccination reaction in the clinic only in the tuberculosis dispensary. Children are administered only certified lethality of children at one year of age. Today's form. In the absence of Mycobacteria bovis, the pediatrician should be familiar.

bolshoyvopros.ru⁤>

which annually takes away

DTP vaccination side effects in infants reviews
Cough in a baby after DTP vaccination
Medical advice from vaccinations: reasons for infants
Temperature after DPT vaccination in an infant
What is DPT vaccination and what are the consequences for babies?
DTP vaccination side effects in infants
After vaccination, a baby has a fever, what to do?
The baby's temperature rose after vaccination
What temperature should be brought down in a baby after DPT vaccination?
Reaction to BCG vaccination in infants
Baby's temperature after vaccination
Reaction to hepatitis vaccine in infants

What to do?

The normal reaction of parents, if the child’s BCG is red and swollen, will be to worry that the child has tuberculosis. Actually this is not true. After the vaccination has been given, it is necessary to monitor the reaction at the puncture site and the general condition of the baby. Redness of the skin and the subsequent possible appearance of suppuration should not cause panic among parents. Adults should remember that under no circumstances should the injection site be treated with any means. The abscess should also not be removed or attempted to be cleaned. Normally, this manifestation will soon pass and the abscess will heal and the redness of the skin will subside.

If the redness of the skin does not subside for a long time, then you should consult a doctor.

It is also necessary to make an appointment with a phthisiatrician if the redness begins to increase in size. Parents need to ensure that the child does not scratch the vaccine under any circumstances. After the examination, the doctor will be able to answer why this reaction occurred and prescribe additional examination if necessary.

Despite the fact that just under 100 years have passed since the invention of the BCG vaccination, today it is used in more than 60 countries around the world. BCG remains relevant and one of the most effective measures against tuberculosis.

Video on the topic

About BCG vaccination at Dr. Komarovsky’s School:

Thus, after a BCG injection, certain changes are observed. The body can react to the introduction of antigenic material with local and general reactions. Hyperthermia, redness, pastiness, loss of appetite, and headache are allowed. Unpleasant symptoms go away on their own within a few days.

But some newborns develop adverse reactions and complications. Such conditions cannot be ignored. It is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner. The doctor will conduct an examination, identify the cause of poor health and select an effective treatment regimen.

Komarovsky about BCG

When asked by mothers whether BCG should be done, Evgeniy Komarovsky answers unequivocally - it is necessary. After all, it will be much better for a child’s body if it encounters a small number of weakened pathogens of a serious illness than if the child receives an infectious dose of strong and aggressive microbes. But the reality in Russia is that getting sick is as easy as shelling pears - people with infectious tuberculosis move freely, travel in public transport, go to stores, sneeze and cough on the street. There is no shortage of aggressive sticks.

The video where Dr. Komarovsky will tell you everything about the BCG vaccination can be seen below.

Komarovsky especially emphasizes that the test, which many mothers mistakenly also call vaccination, is a very informative way to find out whether the child is infected. The test must be done annually. If it suddenly turns out to be positive, this does not mean that the child will have a comfortable government bed in a tuberculosis dispensary. If an active live bacillus enters a child’s body, then usually the immune defense and the efforts of antibodies are sufficient to prevent tuberculosis from developing. In the absence of proper attention from doctors and parents, without special treatment, a serious illness develops in only 10-15% of children.

In general, the BCG vaccine protects quite effectively against fatal forms of tuberculosis, but, Evgeniy Komarovsky emphasizes, even timely vaccination and subsequent timely revaccination do not provide an absolute guarantee that the child will not get tuberculosis, although they significantly reduce this risk.

Dr. Komarovsky will tell you why the Mantoux test is needed for children in the next video.

Contraindications

BCG vaccination is not given if:

the child's weight is less than 2.5 kg;
the baby or his mother is diagnosed with HIV;
the newborn has neurological or skin pathologies, intrauterine infections, neoplasms;
one close relative developed serious complications after receiving such a vaccine.

After temporary contraindications disappear, BCG vaccination can be done at 2, 3, 4 or even after 12 months.

The baby's temperature has risen: is it normal or a complication?

After BCG, the temperature often rises.
This can be a normal or pathological reaction. Slight hyperthermia (37-38 degrees) is a natural symptom. The temperature rises in response to the introduction of antigenic material, indicating the beginning of the formation of specific immunity.

Hyperthermia usually occurs on the first day after a BCG injection. The temperature can remain high for 2 to 4 days. The condition normalizes on its own. But there are children who react sharply to rising thermometer readings.

They may experience seizures. In this case, antipyretic medications are used. If hyperthermia is observed for a longer period (more than four days), then this may indicate the development of a pathological process.

The following complications are possible after BCG:

infection . Bacteria entering the wound can cause severe inflammation and an abscess. In this case, the baby will have a fever, the injection site will become red and swollen;
development of an infectious viral disease . After vaccination, the child’s immunity weakens. Therefore, the baby becomes susceptible to infection with various viruses and infections. In addition to the high temperature, the baby develops a runny nose, pain and redness in the throat;
allergy. Occurs with high sensitivity to tuberculin. An allergic reaction is manifested by rashes and itchy skin. In severe cases, anaphylactic shock may develop. In this case, loss of consciousness and respiratory dysfunction are observed;
development of tuberculosis . In children with weak immunity, the body may not cope with the vaccine. In this case, vaccine-associated pathology develops;
exacerbation of a chronic disease . BCG weakens the immune system. This can lead to exacerbation of chronic pathologies of internal organs. In this case, the temperature also rises.

What it is

BCG is a vaccine against tuberculosis, a disease that kills about 3 million people worldwide every year. Vaccination is mandatory in 19 countries. The vaccine contains a weakened bovine tuberculosis bacillus. The drug exists in two versions: BCG - for ordinary children and BCG-M - for babies born prematurely.

The first vaccination is done without a preliminary Mantoux test; for revaccination, a preliminary “button” is required. The fact is that it makes sense to get vaccinated only if infection has not yet occurred. If the child’s body has already encountered Koch’s bacillus, then there is no need to vaccinate. The Mantoux test just shows the advisability of revaccination.

The vaccine is administered subcutaneously into the shoulder. The injection site sometimes festers, although this is an individual reaction, but everyone, with a few exceptions, remains with a characteristic scar, confirming the fact of vaccination.

Main adverse reactions of tuberculosis vaccines

BCG vaccines

This condition should not cause any discomfort to the child.

Basically, the reaction to the injection occurs in the form of redness, swelling and thickening of the area of the body where the vaccination was performed. In some cases, other symptoms may be observed: pain in the legs, limping when moving.

The main complications after BCG are associated with incorrect administration of the drug due to failure to comply with the necessary conditions, which include:

Vaccination must be carried out in a separate room.
BCG vaccination is carried out using a special syringe intended for intradermal administration.
the medical worker who will administer the vaccination must be qualified, since BCG has a complex administration technique, especially in newborns.

Vaccination against tuberculosis should not cause any specific reactions in the child such as elevated body temperature or enlarged lymph nodes.

Redness and inflammation of the skin

Redness after a BCG vaccination is considered a normal reaction, even for a whole year.
This can happen in different ways depending on the individual characteristics of each person.

So for some, the redness goes away after a week, while for others it lasts for more than 2 months. If such a reaction is detected, there is no need to visit a doctor, but when examined by a pediatrician, it should be noted that the vaccine has turned red.

After the BCG vaccination, a small swelling will appear at the injection site and a similar reaction will be observed for 2-3 days; it usually goes away on its own. This process should not cause concern.

After a month and a half, the process of suppuration and the formation of red pimples at the site of vaccination will begin, which is the final stage in the formation of a scar.

A keloid scar in the form of red and swollen skin at the site of vaccination indicates that the vaccine can no longer be administered to this patient.

Lump with pus at the injection site

The occurrence of an abscess at the injection site is especially fearful for most parents. Against this background, panic develops and for several months, when the process of suppuration begins, basically no one knows what needs to be done.

At the puncture site, a small abscess with a white head will form, covered in the middle with a crust, which is contraindicated to pick off and treat with ointments; it should go away on its own. The process of suppuration of the BCG vaccination is a normal condition and does not indicate any disorders in the child’s body.

In children suffering from immunodeficiency, severe purulent inflammation in the area of vaccination is possible. Such a reaction requires observation by a surgeon using conservative treatment, and in more severe circumstances it will be necessary to excise the affected tissue.

Increased body temperature

Detection of an elevated body temperature of up to 37.5 degrees in the evening on the day of BCG vaccination is considered a normal condition and does not require any action to be taken in this case.
If the temperature rises to 38-38.5 degrees, it is necessary to give the child an antipyretic drug before bedtime. If you notice a fever in the morning, you will need to call a doctor for an examination.

A similar reaction is observed in the case of insufficiently strengthened immunity. In such a situation, there is no need to worry, because although the child’s immunity is weak and cannot overcome the virus, he will not get tuberculosis. For the same reason, cough, runny nose and redness of the throat may develop.

Swollen lymph node

If the lymph node has increased by more than 1 centimeter, this may indicate that mycobacteria have entered it, which will require immediate consultation with a specialist and medical intervention to avoid complications.

Lymphadenitis is an inflammatory process of the lymph nodes accompanied by enlarged glands, in some cases it occurs with suppuration and the formation of a fistula or other signs of intoxication of the body.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=BtmDavfquJY