@article{6470,
  keywords = {BCG Vaccine, Case-Control Studies, Humans, India, leprosy, Tuberculosis},
  author = {Zodpey S P},
  title = {The BCG controversy: a reappraisal of the protective effect against tuberculosis and leprosy.},
  abstract = {<p>BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin) vaccine remains a highly controversial method of preventing tuberculosis and leprosy despite more than eighty years of use. The protective effect against tuberculosis observed in various studies ranged from -56% to 98%. Case-control studies carried out at Nagpur reported moderate effectiveness of BCG vaccination in prevention of tuberculosis. Its effectiveness was higher against extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. The summary protective effects obtained from meta-analysis of trials, cohort studies and case-control studies of BCG vaccination and tuberculosis were 51 (33-64), 76 (63-85), and 65 (57-72) percent respectively. The case-control studies carried out at Nagpur also demonstrated a significant protective association between BCG vaccination and leprosy. The summary protective effects obtained from meta-analysis of trials, cohort studies and case-control studies of BCG vaccination and leprosy were 43 (27-55), 62 (53-69), and 59 (46-68) percent respectively. The results of the current study and systematic review thus supported arguments favoring use of BCG vaccine for prevention of tuberculosis and leprosy.</p>},
  year = {2004},
  journal = {Indian journal of public health},
  volume = {48},
  pages = {70-7},
  month = {2004 Apr-Jun},
  issn = {0019-557X},
  language = {eng},
}