Suppurative complications following BCG vaccine in 2 Nepalese children

BACKGROUND: The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is one of the most common vaccines administered worldwide and awareness regarding its usual and adverse reactions is important. Local and systemic complications require accurate identification for timely therapy. We hereby report two patients with rare suppurative local complications of BCG. CASE PRESENTATION: Case 1: A nine-month-old boy presented with swelling over the right deltoid for one month with low-grade fever and purulent discharge for two days. The active discharge occurred from the same site of previous BCG inoculation, the regression of which was achieved conservatively. Case 2: The second case was a 14-month-old boy who presented with a swelling over the lower part of the right axilla for one year, later diagnosed as a tuberculous lymph nodal abscess. Needle aspiration was done and anti-tubercular therapy was started based on positive Gene Xpert reports. Both the cases resolved completely without complications. CONCLUSION: Pharmacovigilance surveillance of BCG scar reactions and occurrence of suppurative complications should be known by clinicians for correct identification and management.