ABSENCE OF SCAR FORMATION IN INFANTS AFTER BCG VACCINATION

Abstract

Objective: To determine proportion of infants who do not develop
BCG scar after vaccination. To highlight importance of evaluation and follow up for these infants. Study Design:
Observational Cross-sectional study. Setting: In Vaccination Centre Military Hospital Rawalpindi. Duration: From 1st
January 2003 to 15th March 2003. Materials & Methods: 50 to 70 infants are vaccinated in the hospital every day.
Infants fulfilling the inclusion criteria averaged ten per day during this study. It took two and a half month, to complete
a random sample of 250 infants. Sample Size: 250 vaccinated infants. Results: Of all the infants, first 250 infants who
fulfilled the laid down criteria were documented. Two hundred and one infants, males and females showed presence
of scar. Forty-nine infants, males and females showed no response to BCG vaccination. Conclusion: This descriptive
study concludes that a significant proportion of infants does not show tuberculin reactivity after vaccination and need
monitoring and evaluation for causes of poor reactivity e.g. poor technique, quality of vaccine, improper storage as well
as underlying undiagnosed immunological disorders.