Management of Suppurative Regional Lymphadenitis complicating BCG Vaccination in Newboras

Abstract

Summary: Twenty-two (1.9%) of 1,153 term infants given intradermal BCG in the first 7 days of life, between July 1983 and June 1984, at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, developed suppurative regional lymphadenitis 1-5 months (mean, 2.6+1.2 months) after vaccination. Treatment with isoniazid 10mg/kg/day for 3-9 months (mean 5.2+1.7 months) resulted in complete resolution of adenitis in the 18 cases (82%) who were followed up. Ten (45%) of the nodes ruptured spontaneously and in one case, acid and alcohol fast bacilli were demonstrated microscopically. There was no significant difference between the infants with ruptured nodes and those with intact nodes except that the average size of the ruptured nodes was larger. It is con cluded that suppurative regional lymphadenitis following BCG in newborns can be treated with a single antituberculosis drug; there is therefore, no need to expose such infants to the dangers associated with surgery.