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Should Rabies Shot Be Repeated After A Dog Scratch?
Question: what if rabies infected dog scratches you with its leg. i HAVE ALREADY BEEN vacciniated for rabies 4 times in childhood. I am 25 years now.....
Brief Answer:
Post exposure prophylaxis schedule to be taken
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX arunodhayan,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
As you had been vaccinated against rabies in childhood, it has been a while and you need to take a post exposure prophylaxis schedule of the vaccine. This is because over the years rabies antibody levels in you have come down.
The indication for post-exposure vaccination with or without rabies immune globulin depends on the type of contact with the rabid animal.
Types of contact are:
category I – touching or feeding animals, licks on the skin
category II - nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding, licks on broken skin
category III – single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, contamination of mucous membrane with saliva from licks; exposure to bat bites or scratches
You are likely having category II contact which requires post exposure prophylaxis schedule to be taken.
Tissue-culture or purified duck-embryo vaccines of potency at least 2.5 IU per single intramuscular immunizing dose should be applied according to the following schedule. One dose of the vaccine should be administered on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 30. All intramuscular injections must be given into the deltoid region.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivel
Post exposure prophylaxis schedule to be taken
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX arunodhayan,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
As you had been vaccinated against rabies in childhood, it has been a while and you need to take a post exposure prophylaxis schedule of the vaccine. This is because over the years rabies antibody levels in you have come down.
The indication for post-exposure vaccination with or without rabies immune globulin depends on the type of contact with the rabid animal.
Types of contact are:
category I – touching or feeding animals, licks on the skin
category II - nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding, licks on broken skin
category III – single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, contamination of mucous membrane with saliva from licks; exposure to bat bites or scratches
You are likely having category II contact which requires post exposure prophylaxis schedule to be taken.
Tissue-culture or purified duck-embryo vaccines of potency at least 2.5 IU per single intramuscular immunizing dose should be applied according to the following schedule. One dose of the vaccine should be administered on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 30. All intramuscular injections must be given into the deltoid region.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivel
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Dear Doctor,
Thank you for the reply. I read through the information. I do not have any abrasion too. It was a scratch withouth any mark visible. So do I still need to vaccinate. I did my last vaccination when I was 19.
Thank you for the reply. I read through the information. I do not have any abrasion too. It was a scratch withouth any mark visible. So do I still need to vaccinate. I did my last vaccination when I was 19.
Brief Answer:
Best to take complete schedule
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Very often I get patients who are not sure of the type or nature of scratch. In such cases its always best to take the complete schedule.
The area of scratch must be thoroughly washed with soap and water and tetanus toxoid injection may also be taken.
If you had taken the last schedule 6 years back then you can take the entire schedule as the antibody levels have some down by now.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Best to take complete schedule
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.
Very often I get patients who are not sure of the type or nature of scratch. In such cases its always best to take the complete schedule.
The area of scratch must be thoroughly washed with soap and water and tetanus toxoid injection may also be taken.
If you had taken the last schedule 6 years back then you can take the entire schedule as the antibody levels have some down by now.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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