Post BCG vaccination lymphadenitis management: Experience at KFH Hospital Albaha,KSA

Aim: to collect the data and assess the outcome of management of post bcg vaccination lymphadenitis. study design: prospective observational. study duration: one year inclusion criteria: patients coming in follow up till the resolution of lymphadenopathy were included in the study. exclusion criteria: patients with incomplete follow up were excluded from the study. material and methods: in a prospective observational study medical record of 48 patients presented in outpatient department of pediatric surgery during one year from 1st july 2011 to30 june 2012 was maintained on a detailed proforma. twenty five patients presented with suppurative lymphadenitis and twenty three with non suppurative lymphadenitis. thirty two patients (66.66%) were followed up without any treatment except aspiration if needed. fourteen (29.16%) patients with acid fast bacilli culture positive were given inh treatment for three months. two patients (4.16%) were added on rifampicin due to nonresponse to inh only. results: thirty one were males and seventeen were females. left axilla was involved in 36(75%) patients followed by supraclavicular region. all patients have good outcome resulting in resolution of lymphadenopathy in 2 to 4 month follow up period. nine out of 48 patients are still on follow up and improving. surgical excision was not required at all in our study. conclusion: post bcg vaccination lymphadenitis is significant cause of morbidity in infant,incidence of which is relatively more in ksa. majority of patients can be managed by reassurance and counseling to parents,with needle aspiration and follow up. there is no role of surgery or antibiotics in these cases except proven acid fast bacilli culture.