Is BCG vaccine innocent?

Four patients admitted to the Hacettepe University Department of Pediatric Surgery between 1987 and 1995, two with Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) lymphadenitis and two with multisystem postvaccination tuberculosis (MPT), are presented. The hospital records and records of the Ministery of Health Tuberculosis Control Department were evaluated to determine the complications of BCG vaccine. The most common complication was lymphadenitis with or without suppuration (0.3 per thousand - 3 per thousand). Surgical intervention was required in two BCG lymphadenitis cases and two cases of MPT. Involved lymph nodes were excised in two lymphadenitis cases. Colostomy and percutaneous nephrostomy was performed in the first case of MPT in addition to triple antituberculous drug therapy. Although BCG lymphadenitis is self limited, chronically discharging nodes and tumor-like lymphadenopathy masses need to be excised. On the other hand, MPT has a silent nature with resistance to antituberculous drug therapy. Surgical intervention may be required, directed to the involved systems.