How to tell if your child has been scratched by a cat

Dec 26,2023
2Min

Methods to determine whether a child has been scratched by a cat:

1. First check whether the child has a history of contact with cats and ask the child.

2. Judging from the shape of the wound, the wound scratched by a cat is very similar to a human nail scratch, but the cat’s claws are sharp, and the scratches must be long, slender and deep, three or four side by side, and well spaced. It's very small, and usually a few wounds are not fixed.

3. The wound after being scratched by a cat will be slightly painful and red, and the wound will feel itchy. If there is no bleeding and the skin is damaged, you need to rinse the wound and clean it with soap. If you are scratched by a stray cat, you should receive a rabies vaccine within 24 hours.

How to deal with a child scratched by a cat:

1. The wound must be strictly disinfected. Generally, you can first use hydrogen peroxide and saline to clean the wound repeatedly. After that, iodophor is then applied.

2. Rabies virus and tetanus bacilli are likely to be hidden in the cat’s paws, so try not to bandage the wound. Because these two viruses are mainly anaerobic bacteria, it is difficult to grow and reproduce in wounds that are easily exposed to oxygen.

3. You must go to the hospital to get a rabies vaccine to prevent rabies virus infection.

4. If the wound is relatively deep, it is also recommended to inject tetanus antitoxin to prevent infection by Tetanus bacilli.

Previous article:Do I need an injection if I get a red scratch from a cat scratch?
Next article:Is it okay if you were scratched by a cat from a cat cafe?
Related articles