What to do when bitten by a dog or cat?

The only way to save a person bitten by a rabid animal is to get vaccinated and given rabies serum as soon as possible. Once rabies has set in, 100% of patients die.

Rabies mainly occurs in warm-blooded animals such as dogs and cats. People get rabies from being bitten or scratched by rabid dogs and cats. Saliva from infected animals will transmit the rabies virus to people through bites, scratches or abrasions on the skin.

Up to now, both modern and traditional medicine have confirmed that rabies, when it occurs, leads to death. Clinical manifestations of rabies in humans are fear of wind, fear of water, convulsions, paralysis, red eyes. The incubation period is usually 10 - 120 days, depending on the location of the bite and the virulence of the rabies virus.

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The only and most effective measure to treat people bitten by animals or exposed to the rabies virus today is to get rabies vaccination and anti-rabies serum as soon as possible. Do not arbitrarily try to treat the disease with medicines of unknown origin, which can be life-threatening.

Proper and timely rabies vaccination is essential to help people avoid unfortunate consequences that may occur when bitten by dogs or cats. Here are some important notes to help you understand and properly perform rabies vaccination.

Dr. Dinh Kim Xuyen, Deputy Head of the Rabies Prevention Program, recommends that when bitten by a suspected rabid animal, first aid should be given and vaccination should be sought. After a thorough examination and questioning, the doctor will decide whether or not to vaccinate. Vaccination should be given immediately if:

- The animal has a seizure or shows signs of suspected rabies.

- Bites on the head, face, neck, limbs, genitals, even if only slightly scratched.

- There are many dangerous, deep bites.

- Unable to track the animal.

- At the bite site there is a rabid animal.

In the following cases, the doctor will not inject but will tell the patient to monitor the animal for 15 days:

- Mild bite, far from the brain.

- The animal still lives normally and healthy.

- No rabies detected in animals in the area.

According to Dr. Xuyen, in many cases where dogs bite outside of jeans, although there are still scratches on the skin, there is no need for injection because the virus has not penetrated. During the monitoring period, if the animal gets sick, stops eating, dies, goes missing or is sold or butchered, it needs to be injected. After 15 days, if it is still healthy, you can rest assured.

How to get rabies vaccination properly?

- People bitten by dogs without bleeding: According to Master Nguyen Kien Cuong, Military Institute of Preventive Medicine, people in areas where the epidemic is circulating should get vaccinated against rabies and monitor the dog. If after 10 days, the dog does not die, then switch from post-exposure prophylaxis to pre-exposure prophylaxis.

For those in areas where rabies is not prevalent, the dog should be monitored for 10 days. If the dog dies, it should be vaccinated immediately. If the dog is still alive, you do not need to vaccinate.

- People who have been vaccinated against rabies and are bitten by a dog: For people who have been vaccinated against rabies, if they are bitten by a dog, their body still has effective antibodies to protect against rabies, so they may not need to be vaccinated.

If the antibody concentration is found to be below the protective threshold and the animal is suspected of having rabies, a booster shot is required. Monitor for 10 days, if the animal does not die, there is no need for vaccination. If the dog is sick, it is necessary to go to a local preventive health facility for timely examination and advice.

- Children bitten by dogs: MSc. Nguyen Kien Cuong said that if the animal shows no signs of rabies after 10 days of observation, there is no need to vaccinate against rabies immediately.

If the dog has not been vaccinated, you can vaccinate the child immediately and observe the animal for 10 days. If the animal does not die, stop vaccination or switch from post-exposure to pre-exposure prophylaxis.

- For pregnant women bitten by dogs or cats: Pregnant women often have low resistance. If the dog or cat has not been vaccinated against rabies, it should be taken immediately to the Preventive Medicine Center to receive rabies vaccination appropriate for pregnant women.

How to care after rabies vaccination

- Do not overwork, ensure good health for daily activities and work. Get enough sleep, do not stay up too late.

- Absolutely do not drink alcohol, beer, or use stimulants during vaccination. Ensure a reasonable diet.

- Do not use corticosteroids, ACTH, or immunosuppressants during and 6 months after rabies vaccination.

- If after vaccination, you experience side effects such as: itching, swelling and pain at the injection site; fatigue, body aches, dizziness, fever, joint pain, allergies... then you need to go to a medical facility immediately for timely treatment.

According to Infonet