TB jab site leaking pus - help!

[Bellebauble]

Just posted this but it's not appeared anywhere! Apologies if it suddenly appears twice

Anyway, baby had TB jab in August, since then has had HUGE purple lump on arm, tonight it bursts and has been leaking (pale green) pus and blood - is this "normal" as such? Going to docs tomorrow but is it a case for AB's? The bump is flatter but there's a dark hole in the middle and it's still purple. It's 4.5 months since jab so a long time for bump to suddenly pop now surely? Any advice/experience appreciated. TIA.

no it's not normal. it could be an abcess or somesuch

i think antibiotics will definitely be necessary. had you not sought advice since august about the huge purple lump?

i'd call NHS direct or doctor on call if you have one for advice tonight, just in acse they advise you to be seen tonight, how old is your baby?

I had my tb jab when I was 14 and I had exactly the same thing happen. I think it took about 6 months for it to totally clear and heal up.

From seeing other threads on here I think it is quite normal. However maybe give NHS Direct a ring to get a HCP's opinion.

Thanks for your response Lulumama. Baby is 11mo. He had the jab aged 6m in August.

He had an 8month check in October when the lump was up, HV said it would take "a while" to go but wouldn't specify how long (fair enough I suppose). She didn't seem bothered or set a time limit to seeking further advice.

Also he is at nursery and they often change his clothes, and none of the staff have commented on it looking terrible/unusual and they have seen/will see a lot of babies and would definitely comment on that sort of thing.

I am concerned that the hole at the site will leave him open to other infections. It really doesn't look pleasant.

They do take forever to go down - I wouldn't have worried about the purple lump either - TB jabs are strange beasts!

I think I've heard about them bursting before, but agree that this is quite a long time after for it to explode . It's probably an infection which will require ABs.

am sure the doctor tomorrow will be able to advise and sort you out

not sure if you ought to cover it if you have a sterile dressing

i would give NHS direct or doc a call tonight

from the immunisations website:

Are there any side effects to BCG?

Immediately after the injection, a raised blister will appear. This shows that the injection has been given properly. Within two to six weeks of the injection a small spot will appear. This may be quite sore for a few days, but it should gradually heal if you donâ??t cover it. It may leave a small scar.

Occasionally, your baby may develop a shallow sore where they had the injection. If this is oozing fluid and needs to be covered, use a dry dressing â?? never a plaster â?? until a scab forms. This sore may take as long as several months to heal. If you are worried or you think the sore has become infected, see your doctor.

Thanks all. Will definitely taking him to the doctors in the morning to see what they say. I have only got a fabric plaster but want to protect it from knocks tonight (he sleeps on that side) as the skin looks so stretched and sore . Hopefully a plaster will do until the morning.

Update: well, I took him to docs. Doc said it was an abcess and it was infected so he's now on AB's.

She did say that the original big unsightly lump (it was never just a blister!) would have been an uncommon but normal reaction for the BCG hence the lack of concern by HV in October, and it only probably turned into an abcess in the last 4 weeks or so otherwise he'd be very ill indeed at the moment (he's fine in himself, temps/appetite etc all normal). The difference between normal reaction and abcess is hard to spot in terms of the way it looked though.

She advised keeping it clean, applying warm compresses to try and draw more gunk out as it was still a bit of a lump. VERY dilute antiseptic suitable for babies applied in a single sweep with cotton wool across the open wound bit and keep covered with a plaster if felt required.

Bump burst again in the bath this evening , this time there was a lot of very dark sticky blood but no pus, anyway the bump has flattened quite a lot now and it looks more like just a bruise with a centre pinhead hole than the sinister angry dark purply red it was before. It does look a lot better and the diameter has reduced from perhaps a 50p coin to a 1p which is great . Phew. Doc said with AB's its highly likely it could have recovered almost completely by next week but to go back in 7 days if no change or worsening. She's been great .

glad it's been sorted, and sounds like it will be on the mend now