BCG timing - does age make a difference in scarring?

[Sanne Panne]

NOT a yes/no discussion... just one about ideal timing. With my first daughter there was a waiting list for the BCG injection and she got hers at 8 months old. Now at nearly 2 years old it looks like it's going to be a nice ole scar. No big deal, but the less scarring the better of course. My friend had her baby vaccinated right after birth and he doesn't have a scar.

Now with baby 2 we've been given an appointment for next week when she's 2 weeks old.

Am wondering if earlier vaccination means she's less likely to get a (big) scar? She won't be exposed to many people during her first year (no childcare, no big trips etc) so the risk of her catching TB is extremely low (as it is anyway, but again, not the topic of this discussion) so I'm basically looking for ideal timing from the scarring point of view. If there is a correlation between age and scarring.

What's your experience been? And of people around you?

[chantelle]

my son was only a few weeks old for his and there is a visible scar but it's pretty light.

[Saffron]

A dermatologist told me to always keep the site covered. Use a hydrocolloid dressing (not a sticking plaster), and change regularly. Hydrocolloids can also be used after the wound heals, to reduce scarring.

:-)

[damzel]

I wish I'd known that Saffron. Mine had hers at 9 months and at 2 and a half it's a lot better than it used to be but I think she might have a permanent scar from it. It's not so much the mark but the indent that's left. Most people ask what it is when the see it so it must be pretty prominent.

[ClareC]

Saffron Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> A dermatologist told me to always keep the site

> covered. Use a hydrocolloid dressing (not a

> sticking plaster), and change regularly.

> Hydrocolloids can also be used after the wound

> heals, to reduce scarring.

> :-)

What exactly is a hydrocolloid dressing?

[Sanne Panne]

ClareC Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Saffron Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > A dermatologist told me to always keep the site

> > covered. Use a hydrocolloid dressing (not a

> > sticking plaster), and change regularly.

> > Hydrocolloids can also be used after the wound

> > heals, to reduce scarring.

> > :-)

>

> What exactly is a hydrocolloid dressing?

... and do they basically wear it for the whole year during which the scar-or-not forms?

[Ruth_Baldock]

My son was 4 months old when he has his, and has a tiny weeny scar.

I was 13 when I had mine and look like I've got a constellation, or something, on my upper arm...

[BB100]

I had one child who had TB jab at 2 wks and another at 14 months. The one who had it at 2 wks is so feint I have to search for it. The other one is not clearly visible either. It seems the younger they have it the less scarring there is becuase they use a punch with about 50 needles in so there are lots of tiny little scars rather than one large one.

[Saffron]

Hydrocolloid is a synthetic wound dressing that can be used on wet ('oozing') wounds. It helps minimize exudate (lessens oozing), and it keeps the site moist, clean and protected while it heals. Hydrocolloid dressings need to be changed less often (maybe every 2-5 days, depending on dressing and wound type), compared to conventional dressings like gauze or plasters. Hydrocolloids also appear to reduce irritation, pain and scar formation. Although after a bit of research, I found that silicone gel or sheeting is now the preferred method to reduce the appearance of 'settled' scars. Any large pharmacy should have both hydrocolloid dressings and silicone scar therapy. You may want to leave the wound site uncovered if it is very pussy, so you can clean it easier. In general though, keeping it covered with an occlusive dressing like hydrocolloid will keep bacteria out and prevent irritation and abrasions.

[KateW]

I had my BCG after I was born and have a very obvious scar about the size of a penny on my thigh.

[darlin']

Slightly off topic but... the nurse at my GP practice told me the other day that if you don't take up the BCG jab for your baby you no longer get offered it at all when they get older. Is this true?? I ask because, for some reason, I managed to skip my older baby having it done (house move, change of GP etc all at wrong time) and she said now that she is 2 they no longer offer it. Anyone else experienced this??

[EDmummy]

I think it is probably a skin type thing. People tend to scar differently. I had my BCG when I was 32 and although the scar was prominent for the first year, 10 years on it can be hardly seen.

Neither of my two were offered BCG and I have not requested. Does make me slightly worried.

[Sanne Panne]

Thanks for the info Saffron! May get silicon for my 2 year old's scar and hydrocolloid dressings for when my newborn gets her jab. I still feel a bit ambivalent about BCG and am not sure when to give it... anyway, that's another discussion.

Darlin', no idea why they don't offer it after 2 years old, doesn't make sense to me at all. Must be a NICE guideline but I can't really think of any health based reasons why such a guideline would make sense. Must be a financial decision based on herd immunity estimates (now I'm really rambling - off to do some research).