EVALUATION OF BCG IMMUNIZATION WITHIN THE FIRST 60 DAYS OF LIFE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy ofthe BCG vaccine in the fIrst 60 days of life in inducing delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), and to evaluate the reliability of the Mantoux test in comparison with the BCG test for detecting DTH. A study was done in 885 healthy, well nourished infants 5 to 7 months old from rural areas of the Urumieh province, who received BCG immunization in the first 60 days of life. The subjects were evaluated in two random groups the fIrst group underwent the BCG test and for the second group a Mantoux test was performed (with 5TU). A total of 84.2% of infants had BCG vaccine scars. Cases who had received the BCG test had a positive reaction in more than 90% and those who had scars showed increased positivity. In the second group, 63% had a negative PPD reaction (0-4 mm induration), 23.8% were weakly positive (i.e., 5-9 mm induration), and only in 13.2% was a positive reaction (10 mm or more induration) found. So in spite of successful induction ofDTH by BCG vaccination at birth, the tuberculin test is not a reliable method for detecting hypersensitivity.