The

BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin), or tuberculosis vaccine, was developed almost 100 years ago, in 1921, in France by Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin. How does the BCG vaccine work? When and who is vaccinated against tuberculosis?

The BCG(Bacille Calmette Guérin) anti-tuberculosis vaccine, approved for human use, was developed by Albert Calmette and Camile Guerin. The vaccine began to be produced only after 13 years, because that was the time it took for researchers to develop bovine mycobacteria with reduced pathogenic properties (the so-called attenuated). How do they work? The organism into which weakened bovine mycobacteria are introduced acquires immunity and after contact with human mycobacteria, it activates the so-called the immune memory that starts the fight against the disease.

BCG anti-tuberculosis vaccine. When and whom do we vaccinate?

According to the guidelines of the Ministry of He alth, vaccination against tuberculosis should be performed within 24 hours of delivery or as soon as possible until the child is discharged from the neonatal unit. Vaccination is performed simultaneously with the hepatitis B vaccination (first dose). In the case of premature babies, vaccination is performed when they reach a weight of 2000 g.

The vaccine must not be administered to children with immunodeficiency and those who have already had tuberculosis.

Each child should be checked forof BCGvaccination on the basis of medical records. If this vaccination has not been carried out, the overdue TB vaccination should be carried out with one dose of BCG vaccine as a compulsory vaccination as soon as possible, not later than 15 years of age. If there are doubts as to the vaccination status,tuberculosis vaccinationcan be carried out after consultation with a specialist vaccination clinic.

What does BCG vaccination do?

One dose of the vaccine protects the child against the most severe forms of tuberculosis and significantly reduces the risk of contracting the disease.

What's in the TB vaccine?

BCG vaccinecontains a live bovine mycobacterium similar to the bacteria that causes human tuberculosis, but yeschanged so that it does not cause disease in a he althy child. The BCG vaccine has been in use for over 50 years.

What are the complications after the vaccination?

Usually at the injection sitetuberculosis vaccine (BCG)after 2-3 days a small infiltrate is formed, often with a vesicle that heals quickly. After 2-3 weeks, an infiltration is formed there, which lasts for several weeks. A pustule appears at its top, followed by an ulcer that heals spontaneously within a few months. Usually there is a scar later on at this point.

In some children, for several or even several months after vaccination, lymph nodes in the armpit on the side of vaccination may be enlarged. This symptom does not require treatment and should not be alarming for parents.

You should see your doctor if you experience symptoms such as:

after vaccination.
  • high fever
  • profuse purulent discharge at the injection site
  • large swelling or lump at the injection site with fluid inside
  • large swelling or lump in the armpit on the vaccination side

Tuberculosis is back! Are we in danger of an epidemic of tuberculosis?

What is tuberculosis and how do you recognize it?

Tuberculosis is spread by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis through contact with the saliva of a person with an active disease. Although it is a disease mainly associated with the lungs, it can affect various organs or be disseminated. The forms with the highest mortality are disseminated tuberculosis and meningeal tuberculosis.

To confirm tuberculosis, a smear of sputum should be made to find mycobacteria (or if it is extrapulmonary tuberculosis, appropriate material from the lesions) and a chest X-ray that can show a characteristic picture of the disease (if the disease relates to the lungs) . In the past, tuberculin skin test was used to diagnose latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Currently, an alternative to the tuberculin test are IGRA tests, which come in two types - one of them measures the concentration of Interferon y, the other of the cells that secrete it.

Tuberculosis treatment

Treatment of tuberculosis aims to prevent late sequelae and relapses, and to stop its spread. The treatment is carried out in 2 phases: the initial phase, which is intended to rapidly reduce the population of mycobacteria, means taking 4 drugs for 2 months. The follow-up (maintenance) phase, which is directed against the slowly dividing mycobacteria, includes 2 medications taken for 4 months. In the case of meningeal tuberculosis, the second phase should beextend to provide entire treatment duration of 12 months. In bone and joint tuberculosis, it would last for 9 months. In the case of adrenal tuberculosis, the use of glucocorticoids is indicated.

Category:

Infectious diseases