Tuberculous Meningitis in Two Brothers Vaccinated with B.c.g.*

Bacille-Calmette-Guerin (B.C.G.) vaccination on a large scale was started in a number of European countries in 1947 by the Danish Red Cross, and in the following year this campaign was enlarged under the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) and becarm known as the 'Joint Enterprise'. As a result of this scheme, some 8 million children and young adults have been vaccinated with B.C.G. Bearing in mind the Lilbeck disaster of 1930 when 73 vaccinated children died from tuberculosis, it is especially important when any large-scale vaccination project is undertaken to be satisfied that the technical arrangements are such that severe complications are unlikely to develop. If complications are encountered the circumstances should be fully investigated because complications might have serious repercussions on future B.C.G. vaccination campaigns, and also on other forms of prophylaxis, such as diphtheria immunization, which have been successful in reducing mortality and morbidity. Up to the present time few serious complications have been reported in children following B.C.G. vaccination, but it is the purpose of this communication to record the development of tuberculous meningitis in two brothers vaccinated with B.C.G., to review the relevant literature, and to discuss the implications.