BCG vaccination scars of internally displaced children in the north of Sri Lanka

Objective: To study the BCG vaccination scars among the under 5 year old internally displaced children in Vavuniya district.

Study design: Cross sectional descriptive study

Setting: Temporary settlement camps in Vavuniya district

Method: All children between 6 to 60 months attending paediatric clinics held in the temporary settlement camps from 1st April to 15^th May 2009 were included in the study. The interviewer administered questionnaire and examination of the child for the BCG scar were used to collect data.

Results: One thousand and six children attending the clinics during the study period were analyzed. Nine hundred and seventy five children received BCG vaccination whilst vaccination data for 31 patients was not available. One hundred and fifty three children did not have a visible scar.

Conclusion: Fifteen percent of under 5 year old internally displaced children in Vavuniya district did not have BCG scars.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2010: 39: 137-140

(Key words: BCG vaccination, BCG scar, revaccination, scar failure, internally displaced children)

doi: 10.4038/sljch.v39i4.2479