Bites and scratches

It is worrying if your baby is bitten or scratched by a pet or another child, particularly if she gets very upset and cries. Usually you can treat your baby at home, but it is important to find out when to get medical help for your baby's injury.

How should I treat my baby's bite or scratch?

How you treat your baby's bite or scratch depends on how bad it is. If your baby just has a little scrape and there's no bleeding, carefully wash the area with warm tap water.

If the bite or scratch is on your child's hands, or somewhere else when it could get dirty, cover it with a plaster or bandage. Otherwise leave it exposed to the air to help it heal.

If your baby's skin is broken and there's a bleeding, wipe around the wound with an antiseptic. Then apply a gauze pad or clean cloth to the wound and press with your fingers.

Once the bleeding has stopped, cover the area with a plaster or bandage and take your baby to the doctor the same day. Your doctor will assess the risk of infection and may prescribe antibiotics if necessary.

The most common problem following a bite or scratch is an infection. The saliva of dogs and cats has been found to contain a wide variety of bacteria and viruses. A bite by another child can also cause an infection.

It's also possible to catch tetanus from an animal bite or scratch, so check that your baby's immunisations are up-to-date.

What should I do if it keeps bleeding?

If your baby has a bite or scratch that is bleeding a lot, apply pressure to the wound. If the bleeding hasn't stopped after a couple of minutes, or if your baby's wound looks deep and might need stitches, get medical help. Take your baby to the accident and emergency department (A&E) of your nearest hospital or call 999 for an ambulance if there is no-one to drive you.

Your baby may have more blood loss and be more at risk of an infection if she has a bite or scratch on her:

• hands or feet;
• head or neck;
• ears or nose;
• genitals;
• a joint or ligament.

How can I tell if my baby's injury has become infected?

If your baby's bite or scratch is superficial and you can treat it at home, keep an eye on it over the next few days.

If your baby's wound becomes infected, you may notice:

• more swelling, redness or tenderness;
• pus;
• red streaks;
• it feels hot to touch;
• your baby has a fever of 37.7 degrees C or higher.

If your baby's bite or scratch begins to look infected, contact your baby's clinic straight away.

Should I worry about rabies if my baby is bitten by an animal?

Your baby shouldn’t be at risk of catching rabies. Malaysia is recognised by the World Health Organisation as being free of rabies, but there are concerns about the disease in border towns.

If your baby is bitten by a wild animal, call a doctor straight away. Also get medical help if you are abroad on holiday and your baby is bitten by a pet or wild animal. If the doctor thinks there's a possibility your baby may have rabies, she may need a series of anti-rabies injections.

My baby is very upset by her injury. What should I do?

It would have been very frightening for your baby to be bitten or scratched, particularly by a dog or cat. Dogs and cats will seem huge to her. Try to reassure her when you see animals and pets, but keep them at a distance if she doesn't want to be near them. She may forget about it in a week or so.

If the attack was very severe and your baby was bitten badly, she may develop post-traumatic stress disorder. Keep an eye on your baby for any of these signs:

• she seems very anxious or frightened around animals;
• she has repeated nightmares;
• she is scared of being left alone and stays close to you when you're out and about.

See your doctor if you think your baby may have post-traumatic stress disorder. Be assured your baby may be back to normal and the attack forgotten after a couple of months, without the need for any treatment.

However, if your baby's post-traumatic stress disorder continues for longer than two months, or gets worse, talk to your doctor. He may suggest you baby has cognitive behaviour therapy to help her to recover from the attack.

If your baby has scars from bites or scratches, it may affect her confidence as she gets older. If you are concerned, take her to your doctor. He'll will be able to talk you through treatment options, including surgery if the scars are serious.