BCG scar?

[ASD123456]

Rudy had his BCG the day after he was born, just before we left the hospital. I hadn't really though any more of it until i noticed the scar last week, it was just a red little lump. The lump has got bigger this last week (size of a half pea stuck on his arm) and now has a bit of yellow on it where I'm assuming the needle went it.

Usually I wouln't worry but it's been 6 weeks since the injection. Is this a normal reaction or should I take him to see someone about it?

Alex xxx

 

[angela-]

if you are worried i would go see the GP Niamh's was like that for a while but then it went down i went to the doctors he said to keep am eye on it. xxx

 

[keli]

Can i ask whats BCG?.. I don't remember Coop having any injections except the one after he was born vit k..

 

[DebbieM]

It's the injection for T.B (Tuberculosis). Some areas give it to babies but others you get it at about age 13(ish) in secondary school.

 

[trixipaws]

oh thats not done here anymore! how bizarre i thought it would be across the country! they did it in high school when i was 13 but i dodged it lol i went on a mission round the corridors instead of to the room with the nurse and the needle, haha! iv since read theyve scrapped it! iv noticed people whove had it they do all have lil scars on their arms dont they! i dont think they ever fade

 

[DebbieM]

oh thats not done here anymore! how bizarre i thought it would be across the country! they did it in high school when i was 13 but i dodged it lol i went on a mission round the corridors instead of to the room with the nurse and the needle, haha! iv since read theyve scrapped it! iv noticed people whove had it they do all have lil scars on their arms dont they! i dont think they ever fade

Who should be immunised against TB?

In the UK, immunisation against TB with the BCG vaccine is offered to:

* Babies living in areas of the UK where there is a high rate of TB. That is, areas where the incidence of TB is 40 cases per 100,000 people per year, or greater.
* Babies whose parents or grandparents have lived in a country with a high rate of TB. That is, countries where the incidence of TB is 40 cases per 100,000 people per year, or greater.
* The following groups of people who have not previously been immunised.
o Immigrants to the UK from countries where TB is common.
o People at risk due to their job. For example, health workers, prison staff, etc.
o Close contacts of people with active TB.
o People who intend to live for one month or more in countries with a high TB rate.

Note: until 2005, all schoolchildren in the UK were routinely given the BCG vaccine at about the age of 13. The policy changed in Autumn 2005 and those now immunised are in the groups listed above. The policy change was due to the changing patterns of TB in the UK. Rates of the disease are now very low in many parts of the country and children living in these areas have a very low risk of infection. However, in other areas, rates of TB are increasing. This is why the BCG vaccine is now mainly targeted at babies living in areas where there is an increasing rate of TB cases. Your doctor or midwife will be able to tell you if you live in an area with a high rate of TB.

Seems so! I had no idea they had stopped giving it in secondary school.. lucky buggers LOL
I have a scar from mine as do most people I think...

 

[keli]

Thanks for the info, no Coop didn't have one. I still have a scar from having it tho xx

 

[LilysMummy]

Ive still got my scar, in fact i dont know anybody who hasnt got a scar

Should Lily have it though, Matt works on a farm and often dealing with cattle with TB???

 

[HideiLu]

HV talked about this yesterday and they don't do it in schools here now anymore either.

She said it is given to higher risk groups only, and think it can be requested if you're worried.

My scar is barely noticable, but my best friend has a huge mark from hers.

If you are worried, defo get gP to have a look x

 

[ASD123456]

I wasn't made aware that it was only in certain areas, I'm assuming this must be a high risk area as none of the other factors apply to him. I had mine done in school, my scar is very neat, I'm hoping his ins't infected and therefore going to leave him with a big scar. I don't remember the reacion I got to it

I think I'll call the GP just incase.

 

[Gem & Leland]

leland still had a dot and he had his in july , took about 6 weeks to come out tho , they said this was normal

 

[Jade&Evie]

surely everyone should have it!? It doesn't take much for me to hop onto a train and be in london 40 mins later which is apparantly higher risk than essex

I had mine in school and will get Evie's done privately when she's a bit older if she doesn't get one.

 

[LisaPink]

I have no scar!! I grew up in central London & we had ours when we were about 6. Then we moved out of London & I was in High School everyone else had it & I remember the nurse telling me I was a liar as I had no scar!!

 

[ASD123456]

surely everyone should have it!? It doesn't take much for me to hop onto a train and be in london 40 mins later which is apparantly higher risk than essex

I had mine in school and will get Evie's done privately when she's a bit older if she doesn't get one.

It does seem ridiculous that places so close don't offer it, it says online that areas where there are over 40 cases per 100,000 people get it, so, because London is so densley populated it would obviously have a high rate, but what about people who live near but not in London?!?!?

I remember when we got ours done we had a test thing a week before where you had six needles in a circle stamped on your arm to see if you got a reaction, if you did you didn't need the injection. We were all desperate for a reaction because the BCG was one of those Urban Myths of secondary school- we were all petrified of it.

I also remember it was the done thing to punch people in where they'd had their BCGs, we were very childish!

 

[maybebaby]

I didn't realise they'd stopped doing it at school. I had mine done when I was 13 and have the tiniest little scar but barely noticeable. My OH has a bigger scar. It does seem odd that they don't offer it to everyone anymore, if the disease is disappearing surely that's a sign that the immunisations were working!

 

[LilysMummy]

Going to see HV about this next week, not happy lily hasnt been offered it shes high risk too

 

[maldives]

nothing to worry about, i have given birth to my LO in London, i gave him the BCG as it is required here in the gulf where my DH work, so when i took him here for his 8 weeks jab the nurse was looking for something in his arms then i knew she was checking for the scar to make sure he had his bcg LOL so a scar should be there

 

[abcd1234]

I've only had it cos my grandad had TB when i was a baby so i had it then.

Dave's 22 and hasnt had it, we were talking about it a few days ago, i dont think its common here.