Rabies Vaccine | Dog Bite
Dog bites are concerning due to the high risk of infection, with dog saliva carrying a wide range of bacteria and pathogens. Infections can manifest as redness, pain, and oozing. Proper management depends on factors like the bite location, the person’s health, and the dog’s rabies vaccination status, with many cases treatable in general practice but high-risk wounds necessitating hospital referral. While rabies is a feared complication, skin infections are more common, and some bites can result in serious injury, particularly to the hand, which is at high risk due to its proximity to bones and joints. Rabies is a zoonotic disease, primarily prevalent in Asia and Africa, transmitted through saliva via bites or scratches, with almost invariably fatal symptoms once they appear. It’s found globally, with a few regions being rabies-free, and various animal species play a role in its maintenance and transmission in nature.
GENERAL GUIDELINE FOR DOG BITE MANAGEMENT ACCORDING TO CATEGORY OF EXPOSURE
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Risk Category
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Type of Exposure
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Action to be Taken
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1
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Touching/feeding animal. Licking of intact skin.
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Nil if history is reliable. If history not reliable, treat as category 2.
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2
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Nibbling of uncovered skin. Superficial scratch, no bleeding. Licking of broken skin.
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Apply wound treatment. Administer vaccine. Do not administer anti-rabies immunoglobulin. Stop vaccination if animal is rabies negative in laboratory tests, or remains healthy after 10 -14 days observation (dog or cat). Continue vaccination if animal is not found/captured.
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3
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Bites/scratches which penetrate the skin and draw blood. Licking mucous membrane. Multiple bites. Any wild animals bites
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Apply wound treatment. Administer vaccine. Administer anti-rabies immunoglobulin. Administer anti-tetanus and antibiotic treatment. Stop vaccination if animal is rabies negative in laboratory tests, or remains healthy after 10 - 14 days observation (dog or cat). Continue vaccination if animal is not found/captured.
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GENERAL GUIDELINE FOR DOG BITE MANAGEMENT ACCORDING TO CATEGORY OF EXPOSURE
The number of doses needed depends on a person’s previous rabies vaccination status:
If someone has never been vaccinated for rabies, they require four doses on days 0, 3, 7, and 14.
For those who have been previously vaccinated, two doses on days 0 and 3 are sufficient.
If a person is immunocompromised due to certain medications or medical conditions (like HIV or cancer), they should receive five doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28. Similar to previously unvaccinated individuals.
