What Is the Full Form of BCG in Medical?

The Full Form of ‘BCG’ in Medical is ‘Bacillus Calmette Guerin’.

Full Form of BCG

BCG, or Bacillus Calmette Guerin, is a live attenuated bacterial vaccine used primarily to protect against tuberculosis (TB). BCG was first developed in 1921 by French researchers Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin; hence its name. The BCG vaccine is the most widely used vaccine for TB prevention worldwide.

The BCG vaccine works by stimulating the body’s immune system to produce antibodies that help fight off TB bacteria if it is encountered in the future. While there is no direct proof that BCG can treat active TB, some studies suggest that it may be beneficial in preventing severe disease progression in those already infected with TB.

BCG is a live attenuated bacterium, which means that it has been weakened so that when it enters the body, it will not cause any significant illness but will stimulate the body’s immune system. This makes it safe for use even in newborns and young children. The BCG vaccine contains a strain of Mycobacterium bovis, which is related to the bacteria causing TB but not as virulent or contagious.

The most common side effect of receiving the BCG vaccine is temporary swelling at the injection site. Some people may also experience fever and fatigue after being vaccinated. Serious adverse reactions are rare but can include severe allergic reactions or infection at the injection site.

In general, everyone should have access to this life-saving vaccine. The World Health Organisation recommends that all infants receive one dose of BCG at birth and then again between 12-15 months of age for countries with high prevalence of tuberculosis; however, some countries may have different recommendations based on their own epidemiology data and risk assessment criteria.

BCG vaccination has been found to be effective in reducing morbidity and mortality due to TB in infants up to five years old and adults up to 35 years old who were previously unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated with other vaccines containing Mycobacterium bovis antigens such as those combined with diphtheria toxoid (DPT) vaccines. Vaccination also provides some protection against drug-resistant forms of TB, although further research into this area is needed before any recommendations can be made about its use for this purpose alone.

Overall, BCG vaccination offers an important method for protecting individuals from developing tuberculosis disease as well as reducing transmission of Mycobacterium bovis from person-to-person contact. It should be part of every country’s public health strategy towards eliminating TB from our world population once and for all!

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