Quick question - should the site of a BCG jab be a hard, swollen, red lump, about 1cm in size 4 months after the injection?

[beansprout]

Ds1's was never this bad so was just wondering if I need to go and see the HV or if this sounds ok. It's not oozing anything. Thanks.

Anyone?

Hi, the site of mine did this - took about 10 years to disappear. Maybe worth getting checked out just to make sure but wanted to reassure you that my arm never fell off or anything!

Mine was a gunky scabby mess for ages. It has left me with a scar about the size of a penny piece. But like SP, I lived to tell the tale

DS' did this about 3-4 months after he had it-it went massive then burst and leaked loads of pus. My HV didn't know but I spoke to the nurse in the childrens ward where he had it done and she said is fine, apparently they have changed it so it doesn't take effect straight away and as long as you get a reaction within 6 months it is fine.

Hi - mine did this too, though I had it in my teens. It did then "pop" - full of white pus. It healed over ok after it popped, but I've still got a circular scar. Probably worth getting HV/doc to take a look - they may be able to stop it scarring.

Thanks for your replies. It looks like it is full of something. Will wait for that lovely moment then!!

My 3 kids all had theirs at the same time. Dd1 and ds blistered then dried up - dd2 got something liek this - eventually dh (he's a GP) popped it with a scalpel as it was pretty red and hot. If it is hot it needs to be drained as it could be getting infected.

The injection was absorbed months ago though, so the injection has been effective, hopefully.

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Eek! Is there a thread cod?

Mine still bursts every now and then 35 years later!! It is hard, swollen and red and comes to scab which `I can't resist picking and then it bleeds profusely for ages! (TMI!)

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"apparently they have changed it so it doesn't take effect straight away and as long as you get a reaction within 6 months it is fine."

What does this mean? Are they supposed to do this? Mine never did, I had no lump, have no scar, nothing from mine, everyone else I know had lumps or at least have scars. Does it mean it didn't work??

DD had no lump or scar, so when she was of to Peru, I asked for a heaf test and it was found that she wasn't immune. She had to have it again, and now has a small scar!

Interesting...

Does it matter for me personally? Should I get it checked? I don't live in London where I hear it can be a problem.

I never had a lump or a sacre so I've had to have chest x-rays a couple of times for medicals prior to employment esp. as I've been exposed to TB when a student nurse.

dh has HUGE scar on his arm and dd had a red angry, swollen lump for months after hers. It burst one day and she screamed so much (loads of pus came out) I tooke her to A+E cos I was scared she had septacaemia .

Paeds tried to keep a straight face, so in summary it all sounds ok some scars are V reactive and this is normal

Apols for sp and grammar

The nurse did imply that no reaction meant it hadn't taken but I didn't question that I'm afraid-was more concerned with the amount of pus coming out of ds' arm!

DS3's was like this. It did finally go away but it took months.

We had this too - two lots of green pus discharging after the HV had said "oh no, no abscess" .

It is still very very noticeable at 17m but since it discharged it hasn't bothered her.