What to Do When Your Child Gets Scratched by a Cat: Wound Care, Rabies Vaccination, and Scratch Fever Prevention Guide

What to Do When Your Child Gets Scratched by a Cat: Wound Care, Rabies Vaccination, and Scratch Fever Prevention Guide

Nowadays, pets are becoming part of the family in many households. However, scratches and bites from pets, especially cats, are common, particularly for curious children who love to play with them.

Getting scratched by a cat not only poses the risk of rabies infection, but can also lead to other microbial infections and psychological issues, such as cat scratch fever, plague, cryptosporidiosis, and Salmonella infection. Therefore, parents need to understand the right way to handle cat scratches and how to prevent them.

I. The Risks of Cat Scratches for Children

1. Rabies:

Rabies is an acute infectious disease caused by the rabies virus, usually transmitted through animal bites or scratches. While cats are less likely to be infected with rabies than dogs, they can still carry the virus. According to rabies epidemiological investigations, 95% of rabies cases worldwide are caused by dog bites, while 5% are caused by cat scratches.

2. Cat Scratch Fever:

Cat scratch fever, also known as cat scratch disease, is an infectious disease caused by Bartonella henselae. This bacteria is mainly found in the mouths and claws of cats. When a cat scratches or bites a person, the bacteria can enter the body and cause infection.

3. Other Infections:

Besides rabies and cat scratch fever, cat scratches can also lead to infections from other bacteria and viruses, such as plague, cryptosporidiosis, and Salmonella infection.

4. Psychological Issues:

Getting scratched by a cat can lead to fear and anxiety in children, affecting their mental health.

II. How to Handle Cat Scratches

1. Wash the Wound:

The most important thing to do after a cat scratch is to immediately wash the wound.

Rinse the wound thoroughly with 20% soap or mild alkaline soap, alternating with clean water, ensuring that the saliva is completely washed away for at least 15 minutes.
Avoid using alcohol or iodine directly on the wound, as they can irritate the wound and hinder healing.

2. Disinfect the Wound:

After washing the wound, use 0.025%-0.05% povidone-iodine solution or 0.005%-0.01% benzalkonium chloride solution for disinfection.

3. Rabies Vaccination:

If the cat has not been vaccinated against rabies or if the vaccination time is uncertain, it is recommended to get a rabies vaccine immediately.

Standard vaccination schedule: One injection on the first day after the scratch, followed by injections on days 3, 7, 14, and 28.
If the bite is severe or the wound is close to the central nervous system, the first and second doses should be doubled.

4. Monitor the Wound:

After rabies vaccination, monitor the wound for changes. If you experience redness, swelling, fever, pain, or other symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

III. Preventing Cat Scratches

1. Vaccinate Cats Against Rabies:

Regular rabies vaccination for cats can effectively prevent the occurrence of rabies.

2. Deworming:

Regular deworming for cats can reduce the risk of parasitic infections.

3. Avoid Children's Contact with Cats:

Try to prevent children, especially young children, from contact with cats.

4. Teach Children the Right Way to Interact with Cats:

Teach children not to touch the cat's mouth, nose, or eyes directly and not to tease the cat.

5. Pay Attention to the Cat's Special Physiological Periods:

During a cat's estrus, pregnancy, or illness, avoid letting children interact with them.

6. Handle Cat Scratches Promptly:

Once a child is scratched by a cat, immediately clean and disinfect the wound and get a rabies vaccine if necessary.

IV. Symptoms and Treatment of Cat Scratch Fever

The main symptoms of cat scratch fever include:

Red papules at the site of the scratch.
Swollen lymph nodes at the site of the scratch, accompanied by pain.
Fever, fatigue, and poor mental state.

The treatment of cat scratch fever mainly relies on antibiotics and generally requires no special treatment. If symptoms are severe, seek medical attention promptly.

V. Knowledge Parents Need to Know

1. Protection Period of Rabies Vaccine:

The protection period of a rabies vaccine is generally 6 months. If a person is scratched or bitten by a cat again within 6 months of vaccination, a revaccination is not necessary. However, if it has been more than 6 months, a revaccination is required.

2. China's "Technical Guidelines for Rabies Prevention and Control (2016 Edition)"

According to the severity of wound exposure, the guidelines classify rabies exposure into three levels:

Level 1 (No Exposure): No special treatment is needed.
Level 2 (Mild Exposure): Rabies vaccination is required.
Level 3 (Severe Exposure): Anti-rabies serum or rabies immunoglobulin injection is required, and passive immunization is performed.

3. Contagiousness of Cat Scratch Fever:

Cat scratch fever is generally not contagious between humans, but it can spread between cats.

VI. Tips and Experience Summary

Cat scratches are common accidents, and parents need to understand the right way to handle them and take preventive measures.

First, regularly vaccinate cats against rabies and deworm them.
Second, teach children not to touch the cat's mouth, nose, or eyes directly and not to tease the cat.
Finally, if a child is scratched by a cat, immediately clean and disinfect the wound and get a rabies vaccine if necessary.

For the sake of children's health, parents need to pay attention to the health of their pets, take preventive measures, and handle accidents promptly.

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