What should I do if there is a hole after BCG vaccination? Is it normal for BCG to cause repeated suppuration?

BCG is a Class A vaccine for preventing tuberculosis. In my country, newborns can be vaccinated with BCG for free. After vaccination with BCG, suppuration is normal, and then scabs will form and scars will be left. The scars left on our arms now are from BCG. So what should I do if the suppuration site after BCG vaccination is broken? Is it normal to keep suppurating?

What should I do if there is a hole in the BCG vaccine?

This is a very normal phenomenon.

First clean with hydrogen peroxide, then scrub with alcohol or iodine. Since alcohol is irritating, it is best to use iodine for children. Through local treatment, if the large hole after suppuration does not continue to expand, it will gradually recover. If the recovery is slow, local antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs can also be used for treatment. BCG is mainly used to prevent tuberculosis in children. It is injected within 24 hours after the child is born. After injection, suppuration may occur. Some children do not have suppuration.

Is it normal for BCG to cause repeated suppuration?

If the BCG vaccination causes suppuration, it is recommended not to squeeze out the pus or bandage it with cloth. Let it scab and fall off by itself. Do not scratch it with your hands. If the scab is wiped off or pus and water flow out, you can apply some gentian violet and keep it clean and dry. It can still form a scab later. Sometimes the pus will recur for about a month. As long as it is localized and does not spread, it is no problem.

After receiving this type of vaccine, you may also experience swollen lymph nodes under your armpits. It is recommended to apply warm compresses with a warm towel, which will automatically shrink, so there is no need to worry. If there is severe pus discharge and fistula, it is recommended to go to the hospital for thorough debridement. Do not scratch yourself to avoid deep tissue infection and ulceration. Oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatory treatment can be used if necessary.

Can the pus in a newborn baby be squeezed out after BCG vaccination?

Squeezing out the pus can easily cause infection. It is best not to squeeze it out by yourself. It will fall off by itself after a period of time and heal in 2-3 months. Keep the needle hole clean and dry, and avoid getting it wet. If it is squeezed out, disinfect the wound with iodine tincture and apply erythromycin ointment 4-6 times a day.

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BCG is the only approved tuberculosis vaccine. It is a live vaccine made from a suspension of attenuated bovine tuberculosis bacteria, which has the function of enhancing macrophage activity, strengthening the ability of macrophages to kill tumor cells, activating T lymphocytes, and enhancing the body's cellular immunity. BCG is injected intradermally, but it is not very effective in preventing lung infections in adolescents and adults. Intradermal injection does not induce a high frequency of specific T cells in the lungs - they may be necessary to regulate a high level of protection against infection and disease.