Prevention of rabies in children

Posted by Doctor Nguyen Van Son - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital

Rabies is a disease caused by the rabies virus. This is an acute viral infectious disease of the central nervous system that leads to certain death. Therefore, rabies prevention is extremely important.

1. How to prevent rabies

Compulsory rabies vaccination for animals Muzzle animals when free to keep an eye on children when taking them out Teach children not to approach strange dogs and cats...

Rọ mõm súc vật — Súc vật thả rông cần được đeo rọ mõm đầy đủ

2. Some points to note when being bitten by an animal

If a child has been bitten on the face, neck, genitals, or has been bitten multiple times, the child should be vaccinated against rabies as soon as possible (within 48 hours of the bite.
If the bite is small and If the bite site is not in the above areas, the dog or cat can be monitored for 10 days, if the dog or cat does not show signs of rabies, the child does not need to be vaccinated against rabies. If possible, children still need to be vaccinated
Rabies vaccination has many shots (depending on different brands) but needs to be vaccinated with enough doses to ensure effectiveness.

3. Treatment of wounds after being bitten by an animal

Treat the wound after being bitten by a dog or cat as follows:
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap under running water for 10-15 minutes, then clean it with 70 degree alcohol or betadin. Stop bleeding by applying pressure to the wound with a clean towel and elevating the injured limb.

Chó cắn, dại — Cha mẹ cần giúp trẻ xử trí vết thương khi bị súc vật cắn đúng kỹ thuật

The wound should not be sutured or the dressing is too tight. In case of necessity, the bite can be cut but only sutured after proper handling. Prophylactic antibiotics and tetanus vaccination if necessary.

4. When to take the child to the doctor?

Unable to identify the animal that bit the child. Deep bite wounds, multiple bites or bites on the face, neck, genitals. Bleeding that does not stop after ten minutes of applying hemostatic measures. If the child's tetanus shot is more than 5 years old When there are signs of infection such as swelling, redness, pain, pus at the bite site, rabies vaccination is a mandatory measure when bitten by a rabid dog or cat to protect the child's health . Vinmec International General Hospital provides immunization services with a variety of vaccines for different audiences, from infants, young children, adults, and women before and during pregnancy, in which rabies vaccine available.