A neighbor’s dog attacked an 11-year-old girl while she was playing with her friends, leaving her with a 20 cm long wound on the back of her head. The girl was taken to Phu Tho Obstetrics and Children’s Hospital with injuries to her ears, back, shoulders, as well as the serious wound on her head. Due to the severity of her condition, she was transferred to the provincial hospital where doctors cleaned and sutured the wounds, relieved her pain, and placed drainage to prevent hematomas.
The medical team ordered a CT scan to assess the damage to her head area, but no abnormalities were found. The girl received anti-rabies serum and is currently undergoing active treatment. Parents are advised to be cautious when caring for young children who are unable to defend themselves and to avoid letting children come into close contact with dogs. In case of a dog bite, parents should wash the wound with clean water, soap, or saline, cover it with clean gauze, and seek immediate medical attention for emergency treatment and vaccination.
Dog and cat owners are encouraged to ensure their pets are fully vaccinated and regularly re-vaccinated as recommended by veterinarians. Pets should not be allowed to roam freely on the street, and when taken outside, they should wear a muzzle to prevent them from attacking others.