Background: There are conflicting reports on the effect of BCG vaccination on the
subsequent development of atopy and asthma. There are no data on the effects of neonatal
BCG vaccination on cytokine responses of lymphocytes that are exposed in vitro to
allergens. Objectives: We sought to test the hypothesis that neonatal BCG vaccination or,
alternatively, evidence of an immunologic memory of this vaccination is associated with a
reduced prevalence of allergic sensitization, asthma, eczema, and hay fever during …