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Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis (TB)

 

Tuberculosis kills or debilitates more adults aged between 15 and 59 years than any other disease in the world. TB is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs. Compared with other diseases caused by a single infectious agent, tuberculosis is the second biggest killer, globally. 

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German microbiologist Robert Koch discovered the microbial causes of tuberculosis in 1882, following Koch's discovery, the development of vaccines and effective drug treatment led to the belief that the disease was almost defeated. Indeed, at one point, the United Nations, predicted that tuberculosis (TB) would be eliminated worldwide by 2025. 

• TB symptoms (cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss, etc.) may be mild for many months, and people ill with TB can infect up to 10-15 other people through close contact over the course of a year

• TB is an airborne pathogen, meaning that the bacteria that cause TB can spread through the air from person to person

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The main use of BCG is for vaccination against tuberculosis. BCG vaccine can be administered after birth intradermally.BCG immunization generally causes some pain and scarring at the site of injection. The main adverse effects are keloids—large, raised scars.

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Read more about Tuberculosis disease in Health Education Center