Big BCG lump on a little arm

[Pippa103]

Hi Ladies,
I'm feeling quite worried about my little 7 month old girl's BCG site.

We dithered for a while about getting this done as, although we live in a high risk London area now, we will shortly be moving to Surrey where babies are not given BCG routinely.

Anyway, Esme did have the injection on 17th Feb, reacted strongly the next day and then had nothing on her arm at all until 2 weeks ago when a large hard red bump appeared. The doctor checked it and said not to worry and that it would get worse before it got better.

Now it's an angry looking red/purple lump the size of a 50p piece which looks huge on a tiny arm.

I anticipate that the lump will pop and be pussy but will she be left with a scar the size of a 50p piece? Did anyone elses babies react so strongly? The other babies I know have small pimples at the site. I feel really terrible to have scarred her perhaps unneccesarily.

My dd had this at birth (we lived in a high risk country). i don't remember it being as big as your dd's, I would go back to the GP for some more advice.

DS had a large scar (we live in London and he had his done at 8 months). For the first 6 weeks or so there was barely anything, then it got large and angry as you describe (not sure about 50p size though, probably more like 20p size). It stayed angry and oozy for months - maybe 4-6 months? and is now just a scar - still about 20p size though. I have to say I didn't worry, because lots of the other children round here had them so I could see his was similar to everyone elses.

my dd had the jab and her bump was mahooosive! it was definately a big 50p coin and very rounded- protuding, it burst once without me knowing (stained vests etc)and i refrained from covering it up. allowed air to get to it in order to dry it out. it then healed and started getting big again. turns out this is very common and its a good sign if theres a reaction to the jab (or so ive heard)anyway, the second time it burst, i was persistant with gp who gave her antibiotic cream to apply onto it to kill it off. worked a treat. little one didnt even notice

It is routine here in Ireland for newborns. Both mine had a very sore mark for weeks afterwards - like the other posters described oozing and then healing over.

Not sure it was ever very big in surface area just very sore looking although neither of my dds ever paid any attention to it.

If you are worried maybe have your HV or GP take a look.

I know there was a batch of the vaccine here a couple of years ago that caused more problems than usual.

thanks for your replies ladies. I took her to the HV today who had a look and said it was the extreme end of normal but to take her to the GP if I needed a bit more reassurance. Think I'll book her in tomorrow.
It looks like its going to pop any second, very round and protruding like sammysamsam mentioned. Did your LO get a big scar sammysamsam?

My son had the same,it is getting much better now,almost gone (just a small red spot) but he got the jab two months ago and it got infected around four weeks ago. After the bath 4 or 5 times I've gently squeezed it to get the infection (loads of pus) out then put a plaster with desinfectant cream.
I was shoked that the pedeatrician said just to apply hydrating creamand that he will get a scar.
Looking at it today I don't think he will have a mark but he would surely had if I hadn't desinfected it.