The worst part of the dog bite is the wound, especially if the wounded is a child. Getting the wound disinfected quickly is often thought to be the best way to prevent infection. Parents sometimes treat the child at home to avoid an emergency room visit. However, there is the added risk of rabies and disfigurement which threaten to harm a child long after the biting incident, if the wound isn’t quickly treated by a professional.

Parents sometimes believe that disinfecting the wound at home is enough to avoid infection in the wound, however, there is a risk of developing an infection days after the initial incident. For this reason, Pediatricians often administer prophylactic antibiotics. The drug Augmentin is often used. It is much stronger than Penicillin, and can fight off unknown bacteria effectively. Physicians also like to closely monitor the child, because infections can potentially spread outside the wounded area of the body.

Victims of an unprovoked attacked are often screened at the hospital and given prophylactic treatment for rabies. Victims who fail to receive medical treatment, however, are at risk for rabies infection. Pediatricians say that children who are bitten by animals, domestic or wild, in an unprovoked attack should be treated for rabies within 48 hours of the bite. The events surrounding the incident should be recorded and the animal found for testing.

Small children tend to suffer from dog bites to the head and neck. Bites in these areas are at great risk of permanently disfiguring the child. In these areas, the bite not only breaks the skin, but also injures muscle tissue, bones, and/or joints. Left untreated—or not treated soon enough--these injuries can severely disfigure the child. There is also the danger of nerve damage. Hand injuries in children also carry the same risk if left unattended

After the initial visit to the hospital, follow up visits should be kept. The wound need to be checked for infection. The child also needs to be monitored for any signs of systematic illness, among other things. Until the wound is completely healed, the child should be under a physician’s close care.

An animal bite wound should be taken very seriously. Aside from the inherent risk of infection, there is the risk of permanent damage or illness. A trip to the hospital is necessary in do bite incidents, no matter how severe the wound may seem initially.

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