BCG vaccination reduces allergies

Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination at birth seems to prevent the development of allergies. The BCG vaccine is used in many developing countries to protect against tuberculosis. However, it is not used in many developed countries including the United States.Researchers from the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska, looked at the effect of BCG vaccine on the development of allergic disease in 1,704 newborns vaccinated at birth in Thailand, Argentina, and Turkey and followed until the age of about 2 years. A positive test showing exposure to tuberculosis or the vaccine seemed to be protective against allergies. For infants in Thailand and Turkey but not Argentina, having a negative test result was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of having a history of allergies at age 2. In another study, BCG vaccination showed good treatment results in Korean adults with moderate to severe asthma. This study supports the role of BCG vaccine in allergic disease attenuation or treatment.