Many of my readers know that from time to time I write about children's health issues. This is in an effort to keep parents abreast of the latest information in child health care. When appropriate, I send clients this information because their children are at risk or have already been
diagnosed with a disease or condition (autism spectrum disorder, for
example).
We all know that from time to time, children get bitten by animals . . . family pets or neighbors' roaming animals. We worry more about this in the summertime when children are outside playing. I'll bet that we all know someone who was bitten by a dog as a child and has a disfiguring scar on his or her face because the dogs and kids are often the same height. But what most people don't know is that, if not properly treated, an animal bite can be fatal. I'm going to share this information with my clients who have minor children, and I hope that you will share it with yours. If you are a lay reader, please share this information with your family, friends and neighbors. You could save a life.
We all know that from time to time, children get bitten by animals . . . family pets or neighbors' roaming animals. We worry more about this in the summertime when children are outside playing. I'll bet that we all know someone who was bitten by a dog as a child and has a disfiguring scar on his or her face because the dogs and kids are often the same height. But what most people don't know is that, if not properly treated, an animal bite can be fatal. I'm going to share this information with my clients who have minor children, and I hope that you will share it with yours. If you are a lay reader, please share this information with your family, friends and neighbors. You could save a life.
I first learned that dog bites could be fatal in 1985 when I was working on a case at Robb, Dettmer, Messing & Thompson in Traverse City. The clients' son, riding a bike in a public park, was bitten on the ankle by a dog running at large. The parents took their son to their family doctor where he was treated. He was given a tetanus shot, but no other medication. Three days later, their son had a fever and was suffering flu-like symptoms. Again they took him to the family doctor where he was treated. Later that evening, their son went into cardiac arrest and he died at a local hospital. The information below explains what occurred. This is a summary from an about-to-be released article from Lancet, the British medical journal. There is a link below to where the article will appear. When I just checked, it is not yet up, but should be there in the next day or so.
Managing Infection Passed from Pets to Humans via Bite Injuries
Life-threatening pathogens can be transmitted from cats and dogs to humans via bite wounds — and such injuries should prompt careful clinical consideration — according to a Lancet Infectious Diseases review article published online.
Among the pet-related pathogens are Pasteurella, Capnocytophaga, Streptococcus, and Staphylococcus species — with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on the rise. [My emphasis] Given the potential for severe complications, the authors offer a wound management strategy. Steps include:
- Culture for aerobes and anaerobes if the patient has an abscess, severe cellulitis, devitalized tissue, or sepsis.
- Irrigate the wound with saline solution.
- Order radiographs in case of fracture or bone penetration; MRI or CT may also be indicated.
- Prescribe prophylactic antibiotics as necessary. If MRSA is suspected, first-line antibiotics include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline, minocycline, and clindamycin.
- Hospitalize the patient if there is fever, sepsis, spreading cellulitis, severe edema, crush injury, or loss of function, or if the patient is immunocompromised or likely to be nonadherent.
[Editor's note: Although Lancet Infectious Diseases has released this article from embargo, it has not posted the article on its website. Rather than delay coverage while awaiting that posting, we have provided a link to the Lancet's early-release page, where the article will eventually appear.] If it is not up when you first check, check back in a day or so.
http://tinyurl.com/kv7yj4
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