BCG Scar Local Skin Inflammation as a Novel Reaction Following mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Two International Healthcare Workers
Open Access
- 13 April 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Cureus
- Vol. 13 (4)
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.14453
Abstract
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) local scar inflammatory reactions have been mostly associated with Kawasaki disease in children and less commonly with other viral infections (i.e., measles). BCG scar inflammation associated with or following vaccine administration has only been reported with the influenza vaccine. We describe the first reports in the literature of local BCG inflammation following two different available messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti-SARS-CoV-2) vaccines (mRNA-1273, and BNT162b2) in two young healthy physicians, one from Costa Rica, and another from the United States of America, with normal cell blood counts, flow cytometries, and negative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In both cases, BCG scar inflammation appeared after 24 hours of vaccination of the second dose, without signs of reaction on the injection site, and resolved within four days. Dermoscopic findings in one case showed arborizing and comma-shaped vessels. Pharmacovigilance surveillance of BCG scar reactions following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines should be considered particularly in countries where BCG is part of their national immunization programs.This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Erythema at the bacillus Calmette-Guerin scar after influenza vaccinationRevista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, 2020
- Measles infection causing Bacillus Calmette-Guérin reactivation: a case reportBMC Pediatrics, 2019
- Erythema and induration of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin site for diagnosing Kawasaki diseaseSingapore Medical Journal, 2019
- Reaction of the BCG Scar in the Acute Phase of Kawasaki Disease in Mexican ChildrenThe Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 2017
- BCG and Kawasaki disease in Mexico and JapanHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 2017
- First case of redness and erosion at bacillus Calmette–Guérin inoculation site after vaccination against influenzaThe Journal of Dermatology, 2016
- Erythema at BCG Inoculation Site in Kawasaki Disease PatientsMateria Socio-Medica, 2014
- Human Herpes Virus Type 6 Can Cause Skin Lesions at the BCG Inoculation Site Similar to Kawasaki DiseaseThe Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2012
- How to diagnose nonpigmented skin tumors: A review of vascular structures seen with dermoscopy: Part I. Melanocytic skin tumorsJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010
- Delayed Granulomatous Lesion at the Bacillus Calmette-Gue´rin Vaccination SiteActa Dermato-Venereologica, 2001