Why does the BCG vaccine cause scars or ulcers?

It is recommended that Indonesian children receive a number of vaccines according to their age. One of them is the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, or BCG. This BCG vaccine is useful for protecting the body against severe TB and inflammation of the brain due to TB. BCG vaccine is given at one month of age and optimal at two months.

In addition to its benefits, the BCG vaccine has side effects. Like vaccination against chickenpox, the BCG vaccine leaves scars. Why does this scar occur?

BCG vaccine leaves a scar, that's the cause

BCG vaccine contains attenuated bacteria. This bacterium is called Mycobacterium bovis. The entry of these bacteria can trigger the immune system's reaction to foreign substances.

The World Health Organization or the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the installation of injection sites in the upper right arm. The BCG vaccine, which is injected under the skin or intradermally, often causes ulcers or festering wounds.

Initially, the skin around the injection site will become reddish. Then boils are filled with pus. This boiling will dry up and leave a scar, with a diameter of 2-6 mm, after 3 months. The amount of scar tissue depends on the strength of the immune system and healing of each person.

Healing vaccines result from the body's natural healing process. When the skin is injured, as well as after injection, the body immediately reacts to repair the injured tissue. This process then creates a scar.

BCG vaccine can cause scarring, with prominent and rounded textures. These scars are different from the results of the varicella vaccine, which leaves prominent scars on the skin.

The scars from the BCG vaccine also have a variety of sizes. Some are as large as an eraser on the tip of a pencil, although others are larger. Sometimes scars also cause itching, due to the natural reaction of the repair of surrounding tissue.

Can we get rid of the BCG vaccine?
The BCG vaccine vaccine may not be completely removed. Usually, scarring can take up to 3 months and leave a small scar tissue. This is normal. How to treat BCG lesions after immunization are:

Keep the wound clean and dry. You can cover it with gauze that allows air to enter
Don't use masking tape attached to the wound
Do not press, rub, massage or scrape a wound

You can also try the following three things, to reduce the scars on the skin.

Apply sunscreen

Apply sunscreen regularly to scars caused by the BCG vaccine. Indeed, sun exposure can darken scars and cause skin thickening.

Apply a moisturizer

In addition to sunscreen, moisturizers that contain cocoa butter, aloe vera and natural oils (coconut oil) can help reduce the scars caused by vaccines.

dermabrasion

Consult your doctor and ask questions about dermabrasion options. This medical procedure aims to remove the outer layer of the skin, to speed healing. However, this procedure does not guarantee the loss of scars.

Can boils or scars caused by the BCG vaccine be dangerous?

Boils or scars due to the BCG vaccine are not dangerous. If boils only appear at the injection site, you don't need to panic. If severe swelling, high fever, and excessive pus (due to needles are not sterile), seek immediate medical attention.

This complication can occur due to improper handling, which causes secondary infections. For example, due to the application of non-sterile materials on injection scars.

Ulcers due to BCG vaccine usually appear 2 to 12 weeks after vaccination. If it seems less than a week, your baby or child may be exposed to TB germs further examination is needed. This reaction is called the fast BCG reaction or the accelerated BCG reaction.

The appearance of boils after BCG vaccination is not an indication of the success of the vaccination. Without boils, this does not mean that there is no immunity against TB in the BCG vaccine. Bad assumptions, many appear as the development of the rise of fake vaccines.

Many say that if no boils or scar tissue are formed in children, it means that the vaccine used is fake and must be vaccinated again. This hypothesis is wrong.