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Osteitis of the radius following Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination at birth: a case report
Abdelmoneim E M Kheir1,2, Salah A Ibrahim3, Azza Abdelsatir4
1Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. moneimkheir62@hotmail.com.
Insights
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination can rarely cause osteitis, a bone infection. Early diagnosis and treatment of BCG osteitis are crucial for recovery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine prevents severe childhood tuberculosis.
- However, rare adverse reactions like osteitis can occur.
Observation:
- An 18-month-old girl developed left forearm swelling after BCG vaccination at birth.
- Radiological and histological findings confirmed tuberculous osteitis of the distal radius.
Findings:
- The patient responded well to antituberculous treatment.
- Complete healing was observed during follow-up.
Implications:
- BCG osteitis is a rare but possible complication of BCG vaccination.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for favorable outcomes.
Background:
The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, which is used for the prevention of tuberculosis, is considered protective against the severe forms of childhood tuberculosis. However, some serious adverse reactions including osteitis of the long bones can occur.
Case Presentation:
We report a case of an 18-month-old Sudanese girl who presented at the age of 3 months with swelling of her left forearm following Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination administered at birth. Radiological and histological investigations confirmed tuberculous osteitis of the distal radius. She responded very well to antituberculous treatment with complete healing at follow-up visits. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case report of osteitis of the radius following Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination described from Sudan.
Conclusions:
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin osteitis, although rare, should be considered a possible complication of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination, and early diagnosis and treatment are essential.
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