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What Causes Delay In Healing Of Dog Bite Wound?
Question: Hello.
On 10/12/14 my daughter was bit by a vaccinated dog.
She was rushed to the hospital and was given two layers of stitches. She started a course of augmenten. To tak 12ml twice a day for 10 days.
On 10/15/14 they started the rabies shots, However they did not give her the immunoglobin injections.
She got her second rabies shot on 10/18/14.
On 10/20/14 he wounds started to have pus. They were swollen. red and she had a low grade fever.
On 10th/20/14 she was switched to bactrim as her antibiotic and has been taking. 15ml twice a day.
She still has redness around her stitches, and a low grade fever, along with a rash around the stitches and flushed face .
They took a culture on 10/20 but have not gotten the results back.
a little more: she currently takes latanaprost nightly in each eye.
she also recieved one does of Tdap in XXXXXXX 2013.
She is 9 and has WAGR syndrome. Is in remission from wilms tumor and currently has a water cyst on her kidney.
I am concerned and her doctors seem to not be at all.
On 10/12/14 my daughter was bit by a vaccinated dog.
She was rushed to the hospital and was given two layers of stitches. She started a course of augmenten. To tak 12ml twice a day for 10 days.
On 10/15/14 they started the rabies shots, However they did not give her the immunoglobin injections.
She got her second rabies shot on 10/18/14.
On 10/20/14 he wounds started to have pus. They were swollen. red and she had a low grade fever.
On 10th/20/14 she was switched to bactrim as her antibiotic and has been taking. 15ml twice a day.
She still has redness around her stitches, and a low grade fever, along with a rash around the stitches and flushed face .
They took a culture on 10/20 but have not gotten the results back.
a little more: she currently takes latanaprost nightly in each eye.
she also recieved one does of Tdap in XXXXXXX 2013.
She is 9 and has WAGR syndrome. Is in remission from wilms tumor and currently has a water cyst on her kidney.
I am concerned and her doctors seem to not be at all.
Brief Answer:
Start antibiotics based on the culture report
Detailed Answer:
Hi Ms XXXXXXX
Thanks for choosing health care magic.
I have gone through your query and I can understand your concern about the delay in healing of your daughter's bite wound.
Firstly, as the dog was vaccinated, immunoglobulins is not necessary for such bite wounds.
Secondly, Augmentin is a broad spectrum antibiotic which was prescribed to combat bacterial infection of the bite wound.
Wound infections are most commonly caused by bacteria like Staphylococci, Streptococci and some anaerobic bacteria which usually are controlled by Augmentin.
As your daughter did not respond favourably to Augmentin, the antibiotic was changed to Bactrim.
This could be because bacteria causing infection have developed resistance to the antibiotic prescribed.
Her treating doctors have correctly asked for a culture report of the wound to assess the bacteria causing infection and their antibiotic sensitivity.
I suggest you get the report and ask her doctors to prescribe antibiotics appropriately based on the report.
Moreover, based on the past medical history of your daughter as she is in remission from Wilms tumour, her normal immune responses will also be altered.
Her body's defense system is not strong enough to fight any infection and hence the delay in wound healing.
I would suggest you discuss the above options with her treating doctors and get appropriate antibiotics prescribed as early as possible.
Also take particular care to keep the wound clean and dry.
Regular wound dressing will lead to faster healing.
I hope I have helped to alleviate your worries to some extent.
Please let me know if I can assist you further.
Thanks.
Start antibiotics based on the culture report
Detailed Answer:
Hi Ms XXXXXXX
Thanks for choosing health care magic.
I have gone through your query and I can understand your concern about the delay in healing of your daughter's bite wound.
Firstly, as the dog was vaccinated, immunoglobulins is not necessary for such bite wounds.
Secondly, Augmentin is a broad spectrum antibiotic which was prescribed to combat bacterial infection of the bite wound.
Wound infections are most commonly caused by bacteria like Staphylococci, Streptococci and some anaerobic bacteria which usually are controlled by Augmentin.
As your daughter did not respond favourably to Augmentin, the antibiotic was changed to Bactrim.
This could be because bacteria causing infection have developed resistance to the antibiotic prescribed.
Her treating doctors have correctly asked for a culture report of the wound to assess the bacteria causing infection and their antibiotic sensitivity.
I suggest you get the report and ask her doctors to prescribe antibiotics appropriately based on the report.
Moreover, based on the past medical history of your daughter as she is in remission from Wilms tumour, her normal immune responses will also be altered.
Her body's defense system is not strong enough to fight any infection and hence the delay in wound healing.
I would suggest you discuss the above options with her treating doctors and get appropriate antibiotics prescribed as early as possible.
Also take particular care to keep the wound clean and dry.
Regular wound dressing will lead to faster healing.
I hope I have helped to alleviate your worries to some extent.
Please let me know if I can assist you further.
Thanks.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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