Introduction: Although, in recent decades, health measures and public policies have controlled canine rabies in our country, attacks by bites from dogs and other animals continue to affect the pediatric population.
Objective: This article aims to offer an update of knowledge in relation to the risk factors involved in animal bites, their probable complications and current recommendations for therapeutic management.
Methodology: A bibliographic search was carried out in the PUB-MED, SciELO database. Ministerial guides and other national publications were also consulted.
Conclusions: Children are the most affected age group and with the highest risk of complications due to animal bites. Currently, surgical cleansing of the wound and suturing is recommended first. Prophylactic antibiotics are only recommended for deep wounds, especially the hand. In recent years, there have been cases of sepsis, meningitis, endocarditis, kidney failure and other serious complications associated with the Capnocytophaga canimorsus germ.
Keywords: pets, zoonoses, animal bites, rabies. |
