Related Experiment Videos
Does BCG vaccine prevent tuberculous meningitis?
N Thilothammal1, P V Krishnamurthy, D K Runyan
1Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children, Madras, India.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 1, 1996
Summary
The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine offers significant protection against tuberculous meningitis in children, with a study finding 77% efficacy. This research highlights BCG
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- The efficacy of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in preventing pulmonary tuberculosis is variable (0-80%).
- BCG vaccine's efficacy against tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children is reported within a range of 52%-84%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of the BCG vaccine in preventing tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in children using a case-control study design.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted involving 107 bacteriologically confirmed TBM cases and 321 age-matched controls with febrile convulsions.
- Vaccination status was determined through maternal history and BCG scar verification.
- Data on socioeconomic status, crowding, and nutritional status were collected and analyzed using multiple logistic regression.
Main Results:
- The odds ratio for the presence of a BCG scar in preventing TBM was 0.23 (95% CI: 0.14 to 0.37).
- The BCG vaccine demonstrated a protective efficacy of 77% (95% CI: 71% to 83%) against tuberculous meningitis in children.
Conclusions:
- The BCG vaccine provides substantial protection against tuberculous meningitis in pediatric populations.
- The findings support the continued use of BCG vaccination for TBM prevention in children.