Question
A 2-year-old baby’s finger was bitten by a dog, and blood appeared with two needle-like wounds. Previous treatment and results: No hospital visit. Assistance sought: What adverse reactions might occur if no vaccine is administered, and concerns about potential impact on the child’s intellectual development if vaccinated.
Answer
First, inspect the condition of the dog that bit the child. If the dog does not show any abnormalities and has no symptoms of rabies, there is no need to worry too much about the risk of rabies infection. Rabies is only transmitted through rabies virus, which is usually found in the saliva of dogs that are rabid or acting abnormally. Regarding vaccines, they do not affect the child’s intellectual development. Administering a rabies vaccine to children is an effective measure for preventing rabies and is very safe. If the wound has been properly treated, you can apply iodine tincture for disinfection. For young children, parents should pay more attention to protecting them to avoid similar accidents.