Authors : Dr. Mohit Chander; Dr. Ritu; Dr. Dennis Mattu; Dr. Rohan Mohandas

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 8 - August

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/yva7asky

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26aug1256

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health concern, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries. The Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine, composed of live attenuated Mycobacterium Bovis, was first introduced for human use in 1921 to protect against tuberculosis. While the vaccine is considered safe, mild adverse effects such as pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site are relatively common. Less commonly recognized, but potentially more serious, adverse reactions include regional lymphadenitis, BCG-related osteitis, and disseminated BCG infection, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems. This case report of BCG induced lymphadenitis in a 5- month-old male presented with swelling on left arm near deltoid region and left axillary area from 3 months along with discharging sinus present on neck and fever from 2 months.

Keywords : Tuberculosis, BCG Vaccine, Lymphadenitis.

References :

1. Harsh Shah, Jay Patel, Sandeep Rai, Abhishek Sen, Advancing tuberculosis elimination in India: A qualitative review of current strategies and areas for improvement in tuberculosis preventive treatment, IJID Regions, Volume 14, 2025, 100556, ISSN 2772-7076.
2. Park K. Epidemiology of communicable diseases Park's Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine. 201523rd ed New Delhi Bhanot Publishers:196–8
3. Santosh T, Kothari K, Patil R, Jogi AK. Bacille Calmette-Guerin lymphadenitis in infants: A lesser-known entity-report of two cases. J Med Sci 2018;38:239-43.
4. Goraya JS, Virdi VS. Bacille Calmette Guérin lymphadenitis. Postgrad Med J 2002;78:327-9.
5. Park K. Park’s Text Book of Preventive and Social Medicine: 25th ed. India: M/S Banarasidas Bhanol Publisher; 2019. p. 213-5.
6. Lee H, Dockrell HM, Kim DR, Floyd S, Oh SY, Lee JB, Kim HJ. The current status of BCG Vaccination in Young Children in South Korea. Tuberc Respir Dis 2012;72:374–80.
7. Santosh T, Kothari K, Patil R, Jogi AK. Bacille Calmette Guerin lymphadenitis in infants: A lesser known entity-report of two cases. J Med Sci 2018;38:239-43.
8. Elsidig N, Alshahrani D, Alshehri M, Alzahrani M, Alhajjar S, Aljummah S, et al. Bacillus Calmette Guérin vaccine related lymphadenitis in children: Management guidelines endorsed by the Saudi pediatric infectious diseases society (SPIDS). Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med 2015;2:89-95.
9. Pal S, Chakarabarti S, Phukan JP, Biswas S, Sinha A, Sinha R. Role of needle aspiration in diagnosis and management of suppurative Bacille Calmette-Guerin adenitis: An institutional study of 30 cases. J Lab Physicians 2015;7:21-5.
10. Colditz GA, Brewer TF, Berkey CS, Wilson ME, Burdick E, Fineberg HV, et al. Efficacy of BCG vaccine in the prevention of tuberculosis: Meta-analysis of the published literature. JAMA 1994;271:698-702.
11. Expanding Immunization Coverage. Immunization, Vaccines and Biological. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014.
12. Sataynarayana S, Mathur AD, Verma Y, Pradhan S, Bhandari MK. Needle aspiration as a diagnostic tool and therapeutic modality in suppurative lymphadenitis following Bacillus Calmette Guerin vaccination. The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India. 2002 Jun 1;50:788-91.
13. Chan WM, Kwan YW, Leung CW. Management of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin lymphadenitis. Hong Kong Journal of Pediatrics. 2011;16:85–94.
14. Elsidig N, Alshahrani D, Alshehri M, Alzahrani M, Alhajjar S, Aljummah S, Bin Hussain I, Alshaalan M, Alzamil F, Alodyani A, Aljobair F. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine related lymphadenitis in children: Management guidelines endorsed by the Saudi Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (SPIDS). Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2015 Jun;2(2):89-95. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpam.2015.05.003. Epub 2015 May 29. PMID: 30805444; PMCID: PMC6372430.
15. Hesseling AC, Rabie H, Marais BJ, Manders M, Lips M, Schaaf HS, Gie RP, Cotton MF, Van Helden PD, Warren RM, Beyers N. Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine—induced disease in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children. Clinical infectious diseases. 2006 Feb 15;42(4):548-58.
16. Banani SA, Alborzi A. Needle aspiration for suppurative post-BCG adenitis. Arch Dis Child 1994;71:446–7.
17. Gautam U, Shrestha AL, Mishra A. Suppurative complications following BCG vaccine in 2 Nepalese children. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2022 Mar 14;76:103484. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.103484. PMID: 35308434; PMCID: PMC8927786.
18. Indumathi CK, Kowtal PM, Poornima RN, Lewin S. Clinical profile and outcome of clinical BCG disease in infants. Indian Pediatr. 2014 Sep;51(9):730-2. doi: 10.1007/s13312-014-0491-z. PMID: 25228607.