Context. According to last report World Health Organization, tuberculosis became the leading cause of death from infectious diseases in 2023, displacing COVID-19 from this position. This alarming news comes with impressive statistics: this year there were 8.2 million new cases of tuberculosis, which was the highest figure since 1995, when global monitoring of the incidence began.
Can adults be vaccinated against tuberculosis? What is BCG? Why does someone not have a scar after it? And for whom is the vaccine contraindicated? Let's figure out what you should know about this vaccine and why you need it at all.
1. Is tuberculosis already rare? No!
TB may seem like something in the past, but the reality is not so rosy. Compared to 2022, when it was Recorded 7.5 million new cases. This means that tuberculosis has again become a global problem.
In the shadow of covid, he became the second most common infectious cause of death. It is striking that this dangerous infection claims lives every year, despite the fact that the vaccine that fights it has been around for 100 years.
2. How to get infected with tuberculosis and who is at risk?
The bacterium that causes tuberculosis can "sleep" in the body without causing symptoms. About a quarter of people are infected with it, but most do not develop the disease. Most often, tuberculosis turns into an active form in children under 5 years of age, immunocompromised people, as well as smokers and those who are malnourished or live in poverty. Active TB without treatment can lead to death in half of the cases.
The original illustration is in memo ANO "Herd Immunity"
3. What is BCG and how does it work?
BCG vaccination is named after the creators - Calmette and Guérin. It contains live weakened mycobacteria, which are safe for humans, but help the immune system "learn" to fight tuberculosis. In Russia, BCG is administered to infants on the third to seventh day after birth, and then repeated in children 6-7 years old.
4. Does BCG protect only babies?
BCG does not reduce the incidence in adults, but it helps children. It protects babies from tuberculous meningitis and other severe forms of the disease, and also reduces the risk of infection and mortality in children under 15 years of age. Some studies say it may also help with leprosy!
5. Is it pointless for adults to be vaccinated with BCG?
If you were vaccinated as a child, then a second dose will not change anything. And if a person lives in a high-risk area, but was not vaccinated in childhood, the vaccine may no longer help - most likely, he has already met with mycobacterium.
6. Will there be a scar after BCG?
Not always! A scar is formed in 90% of vaccinated people, usually a month and a half after vaccination. But if the scar does not appear, this does not mean that the vaccination does not work. Highlights — Do not injure this place with antiseptics, otherwise the effect of vaccination may decrease.
7. Vaccination against covid? BCG will not save!
In the early stages of the pandemic, some scientists suggested that BCG could help against covid, but studies have refuted this. But it is successfully used to treat non-invasive bladder cancer - an unusual and unexpected property that doctors appreciated.
8. Why has BCG left most developed countries?
In countries with a low incidence, BCG is administered only to medical workers and those who come into contact with tuberculosis patients. In countries with a high rate of the disease, it is given to all newborns.
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