A three-year-old boy who was bitten by a cat died of rabies a month later
Jul 17, 2024
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According to local media such as VN Express, a 3-year-old boy living in Jalai Province, Vietnam, died of rabies a month after being bitten by his cat.
The boy visited the emergency room on the 14th after vomiting for several days at home.
The medical staff diagnosed the boy with gastrointestinal infection and dehydration caused by rabies and transferred him to a nearby children's hospital.
The family, who were admitted to the children's hospital overnight, decided to take the child home early the next day.
However, after returning home, the child screamed, couldn't swallow water or food, and complained of severe headaches as he drooled.
Eventually, a few hours later, the child died.
According to the family, the child was bitten by a cat a month ago and got hurt. It is known that he was bleeding but did not receive treatment.
The cat that bit the child later disappeared and did not return home.
Meanwhile, rabies is a disease caused by the bite of an animal with rabies virus (rabies virus) and appears in the form of acute encephalomyelitis.
Rabies is known to be caused mainly by bites of infected dogs, but can also be infected with the virus by being bitten by cats, foxes, raccoons, bats, and monkeys.
In general, rabies symptoms occur faster as the bite is closer to the head and the severity of the wound.
In the early stages, common symptoms that are not well distinguished from other diseases such as fever, headache, lethargy, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and dry cough appear for 1 to 4 days.
After this period, symptoms of excitement, anxiety, or depression appear, and just by looking at food or water, you may experience cramps in your muscles, especially your neck muscles, drool a lot, and cramps in your neck just by the wind on your face.
80% of patients show symptoms such as fear of water or restlessness.
Rabies can lead to death when complications occur. If not treated, nearly 100% of patients die within an average of 7 days, and even if treated within an average of 25 days.
If you are bitten by an animal, you should immediately receive first aid such as disinfection at a nearby hospital. It should be sufficiently disinfected with disinfectants with antiviral effects and treated with immunoglobulin preparations.
bellho@sportschosun.com
