[The influence of BCG-vaccination on the tuberculosis in children (Hamburg 1950-1971) (author's transl)].

Between 1950 to 1971 6 758 cases of active tuberculosis were registered among children under 15 years of age in Hamburg. 33 of them died, mostly due to tuberculous meningitis. In spite of a general decrease in tuberculosis during that period a relative increase of cases of pleurisy, nodular tuberculosis and tuberculous infiltrations of the lung were seen. On the other hand, cases of tuberculous meningitis and miliary tuberculosis as well as cases of glandular tuberculosis decreased. Rarely BCG-vaccinated children suffered from miliary tuberculosis, tuberculous meningitis and pleurisy. A statistical comparison between BCG-vaccinated and unvaccinated children of the birth cohorts 1954 and 1963 revealed that unvaccinated children suffered significantly more often from tuberculosis than the vaccinated. The duration of the protection by BCG-vaccination has been calculated for 7 years. BCG-vaccination after school age of the tuberculin negative persons is still debatable.