Question

What is the full name of BCG?

Answer 1

Vaccine is a product which stimulates an individual’s immune system to produce immunity against a specific disease. BCG is an example of a vaccine and was developed by two French bacteriologists Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin.

Complete answer:
BCG stands for Bacille Calmette Guerin. It is an effective immunisation against tuberculosis. BCG is a weakened version of a bacteria called Mycobacterium bovis which is closely related to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the agent responsible for tuberculosis. BCG provides protection against tuberculosis. It was first used by Dr. Weil-Hale in 1921.

Symptoms of tuberculosis include:
A cough that lasts more than 3 weeks, chest pain, night sweat, chills, fever, weight loss, loss of appetite, coughing with blood, and lethargy.

Tuberculosis is transmitted when someone who is infected sneezes coughs, they release tiny droplets, if a healthy person inhales these germs and he can be infected. Tuberculosis can be detected by blood tests i.e., IGRAS (interferon-gamma release assays) and by the skin test.

BCG is the most widely used vaccine in the world. The world health organization (WHO) recommends BCG vaccination in areas of high TB prevalence and incidence. BCG is a live vaccine that protects against severe childhood forms of disease, including millionaire and extrapulmonary TB and the fatal TB meningitis. It also provides protection against leprosy. BCG vaccine is given to children, 0.05ml single dose as soon as possible after the birth. If a child is over a one-year-old 0.1ml single dose is given.

Note: It is to be noted that BCG is an immunostimulant. It is used to stimulate the immune system to produce immunity against tuberculosis. The Calmette-Guerin strain of M. bovis present in the BCG vaccine is immunologically similar to Tuberculosis.