BCG lymphadenitis: a study of knowledge attitude and practice of mothers, including effect on completion of vaccination schedule

ABSTRACT

Lymphadenitis occurs as a complication in some children who have been administered BCG vaccine. The purpose of this study was to find out the knowledge that mothers/ guardians possessed about this adverse effect; their attitude regarding other vaccinations and their practice in treating adentitis. A total of 103 mothers were questioned at the outpatient department of the Sindh Government Hospital, Korangi, Karachi. 60.2% mothers did not know about the cause of swelling, 78.6% described it as a "Dana". 36.9% of mothers with knowledge about it had been informed by doctors or paramedics. 48.5% mothers had delayed completing the vaccination series, of whom 75.6% had been advised to do so by medical personnel. 91.3% patients had not been given any treatment prior to coming to the hospital. The delay in completion of vaccination though not statistically significant, is important enough to be evaluated in a multicentric controlled study. This will ensure that the expanded programme of immunization is a complete success