Medical staff at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HCMC) prepare rabies vaccine for people bitten by dogs - Photo: XUAN MAI
According to the health sector's recommendations, if people are unfortunately scratched/bitten by a dog or cat, they should quickly clean the wound and go to the nearest medical facility to get a rabies vaccine.
However, for young children, especially children who cannot speak yet, if they are accidentally scratched/bitten by a dog or cat with a very light wound and no one sees it, it is difficult to detect. So how can children living in an environment with many risk factors who can be injured by dogs or cats prevent the disease?
According to Dr. Danh Thom, Deputy Head of the Examination Department of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HCMC), young children at high risk, such as those with many dogs and cats in their homes or those with many dogs and cats around their homes that are difficult to control, are one of the groups of people who need to be proactively vaccinated against rabies.
In addition, veterinarians, people who own many dogs and cats, dog and cat trainers, rabies laboratory staff, and people traveling to high-risk rabies areas should also be proactively vaccinated against rabies.
Active rabies vaccination will protect these groups from the risk of rabies for about 3 - 5 years depending on the type of vaccine, against the high risk of injury from these animals.
"Many children are scratched/bitten by dogs and cats but their parents do not know because the injuries are minor. Some children are too young to tell their parents that they have been scratched/bitten by dogs and cats. Only in cases where children are scratched/bitten by dogs and cats with large, deep wounds do parents know. Some children go to the hospital to get a rabies vaccine 2-3 months after being bitten by a dog.
Therefore, children living in an environment with many dogs and cats and at high risk should be proactively vaccinated," said Dr. Thom.
In addition to proactively vaccinating against rabies for the above groups of people, Dr. Thom noted that if bitten/scratched by a dog or cat, the patient needs to treat the wound (wash with clean water for about 15 minutes, if there is iodine solution or 70-degree alcohol, disinfect it further) and go to a medical facility to get vaccinated against rabies as soon as possible.
Doctor Thom recommends that families with dogs and cats should pay attention to scratches and bites on children.
If the child has wounds on his body and is suspected to have been caused by a dog or cat, take the child to a medical facility for advice and rabies vaccination.
Take proactive measures to prevent rabies
Ho Chi Minh City's health sector also recommends that people proactively take measures to prevent rabies.
Dog and cat owners must strictly declare to local authorities and vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies according to veterinary regulations.
Raise, confine, chain or keep dogs within the family compound, do not let them roam freely, especially in urban areas and densely populated areas. When letting dogs out on the street, they must be leashed and muzzled to prevent them from biting people.
Cost 200 billion to vaccinate against rabies in 3 monthsSource
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