2 children in Nghe An died from being bitten by a rabid dog
(Baonghean.vn) - In less than a month, Nghe An Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital has received two pediatric patients in critical condition due to rabid dog bites... Both of them did not survive.
At the end of February 2023, baby LBT (40 months old, Que Phong district) appeared to vomit a lot, spontaneously vomited with convulsions. The family took the child to Que Phong District Medical Center for emergency treatment.
Immediately afterwards, baby LBT was quickly transferred to Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital for treatment in a state of respiratory failure, prolonged convulsions, excessive secretion of phlegm, fear of wind and water.
 |
The mortality rate for children with rabies is almost 100%. Photo: Hoang Yen |
At the emergency department, doctors determined that this was a suspected case of rabies. Through medical history, the child frequently came into contact with cats and dogs. One month before the child was admitted to the hospital, a dog in the family died of unknown causes.
After being admitted to the hospital, despite the doctors' best efforts, baby LBT did not survive.
Not long after that, on March 10, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital continued to receive patient VQH (9 years old, Tan Ky district) hospitalized with a diagnosis of rabies.
Just like baby LBT before, baby H was not vaccinated against rabies after coming into contact with an infected animal. It was heartbreaking that when the rabies attack occurred, baby H had no chance of being cured.
According to Dr. Tran Van Cuong, resident physician - Deputy Director of the Hospital, Head of the Emergency Department - Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital: Rabies is a dangerous infectious disease - acute viral encephalomyelitis, transmitted from animals to humans mainly through bites, wounds, and licks on damaged skin of infected animals (usually dogs and cats).
 |
Things to know about rabies. Photo: Internet |
Keeping pets in the house (especially unvaccinated pets) and letting children come into frequent contact with them also poses many potential risks.
Because the incubation period of rabies is quite long (from 2 to 8 weeks, can last up to 1 year), many parents often do not pay attention to the injuries on their children's bodies. The incubation period depends on the severity of the wound, the location of the wound and the amount of rabies virus transmitted to the person.
Once rabies has developed, the mortality rate is nearly 100%. To date, there is no specific treatment for the disease. When bitten or scratched by a dog or cat, proper first aid is required. Rabies vaccination is still the only effective way to prevent rabies in people bitten by dogs.
