What disease does the BCG vaccine prevent?

Jul 23, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Yang Ziqi

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, the BCG vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine used to prevent tuberculosis. Common diseases it helps prevent include primary pulmonary tuberculosis, miliary tuberculosis, tuberculous meningitis, tuberculous pleurisy, and osteotuberculosis. It is important to note that the BCG vaccine does not completely prevent primary infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis; however, it can effectively protect infants and young children against tuberculous meningitis and disseminated tuberculosis infections.

Under normal circumstances, the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine used for the prevention of tuberculosis. Common diseases prevented include primary pulmonary tuberculosis, miliary tuberculosis, tuberculous meningitis, tuberculous pleurisy, and osteoarticular tuberculosis. A detailed explanation is as follows:

1. Primary Pulmonary Tuberculosis: This is a common type of tuberculosis in children. The BCG vaccine can stimulate the body to produce specific immunity, reducing the risk of developing primary pulmonary tuberculosis after infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and decreasing the formation and severity of primary pulmonary lesions.

2. Miliary Tuberculosis: This severe form of tuberculosis is caused by hematogenous dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The BCG vaccine can inhibit the dissemination of tuberculosis bacteria in the bloodstream by inducing immune responses, thereby reducing the likelihood of miliary tuberculosis in children.

3. Tuberculous Meningitis: This is a severe disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis invading the meninges, with high mortality and disability rates. The BCG vaccine can effectively reduce the occurrence of tuberculous meningitis in children, particularly offering significant protection for infants.

4. Tuberculous Pleurisy: This condition involves inflammation of the pleura caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The BCG vaccine enhances the body's resistance to tuberculosis bacteria, reduces inflammatory responses after pleural infection, and lowers the risk of developing tuberculous pleurisy.

5. Osteoarticular Tuberculosis: This occurs when Mycobacterium tuberculosis invades the bones. The BCG vaccine can, to some extent, prevent the invasion of tuberculosis bacteria into the bones, reduce the incidence of osteoarticular tuberculosis in children, and protect normal bone development.

It should be noted that the BCG vaccine cannot completely prevent primary infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but it can effectively prevent tuberculous meningitis and disseminated tuberculosis infection in infants and young children, thereby reducing the risk of severe infections. If there is a family member with tuberculosis, timely standardized treatment and isolation measures are recommended to prevent transmission.

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