TB jab scar

[bombingalong]

Why does the TB vaccination result in a scar, whereas the majority of other injections hardly leave a mark on the body?

[crete]

unlike most other injections where a single needle is used, a t b injection uses i think about 6 small needles,, now youve got me wondering why is that ? matbe google for an answer

[ethandron]

i don't know the answer to the original question, but i think you're confusing the test thing (which has a number of small needles in a circle) which they do on you before the tb jab itself ,crete. they do it on your lower inner arm to see if there's a reaction. then they do the proper jab on your upper arm and, as far as i can remember, it's just one needle. it scabs over after a few weeks, and it's the scab which leaves the scar. or am i getting confused now, and it's the smallpox one that scabs over?????

[Lonnie]

As a child, I used to have to go to the TB clinic regularly for checkups and the vaccination, my father had it, in and out of Old Dagenham Hospital all the time, but I was never left with a scar from it, or anyone else I knew at that time.

Long time ago now, but crete is right, about the needles, used to puncture the skin, and leave a circular mark, but no scar.

[mrknowall]

They use six small needles for the test area one needle would not be big enough for the test .So they use 6 to make the area more visable.

[sense4all]

We must have had the same Doc. in this area - there are some people who look like they have belly buttons on their upper arms. lol.

[loulou06]

practically everyone i know who has had the tb vacination has a scar on their arm, some worse than others but definately still visible.

[crete]

Mantoux Test,,,,,,

[spanner7853]

http://www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/Resour ces/parentschild/immunisation/pdfs/BCG.pdf

Try this it tells you all about it. They dont do these injections anymore unless your at immediate risk. I was quite concerned but that's NHS and there cut backs for you.

[barcelonic29]

The smallpox vaccine is essentially a virus called vaccinia. It is closely related to variola (the smallpox virus) but far less harmful.

Despite this however it is still a virus and your body can suffer as a result. Vaccinia can even be fatal for some people (about 1 in a million), and some people are almost certain to recieve complications, such as people with Cancer or AIDS virus, as their immune system is suppressed. Pregnant women and young children are also not recommended to take the vaccine unless infected with smallpox.

When the vaccinia virus is injected into the bloodstream you would expect the site of infection to turn black and crusty. This is very normal. In fact, if the infection site doesn't turn this way it would mean the vaccine was unsuccessful (the vaccinia was unable to infect you, most likely due to human error on the part of the vaccinator.

The biological explanation for the black crust is not something i can tell you, but i would imagine similar results if you were infected with other different viruses.

The easiest way to understand it is simply by being aware that the smallpox vaccine is a virus itself, and so signs of infection are commonplace.