First aid for animal bites is an essential step to know when dealing with animal bite injuries. The following steps should be taken to prevent certain viruses caused by animal bite wounds, especially rabies.
First Aid for Animal Bites Injuries:
- If you are bitten by a rabid animal, the first aid for animal bites is to thoroughly wash the wound area with soap or detergent under running water for 10-15 minutes.
- Apply a simple amount of an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine or 70% alcohol on the wound or the licked/bitten area.
- See a doctor immediately for further treatments.
You can book Rabies Vaccination Service through Medi-Call Application or Medi-Call call center and our partner doctors will come right to your location to perform the vaccination.
Moreover, doctors from Medi-Call are all experienced for home care services, they also have active registration certificates and are officially licensed. Through Medi-Call’s Rabies Vaccination Service, doctors will give patients an indicated Anti-Rabies Vaccine (VAR) or Anti-Rabies Serum (SAR) as further treatment of first aid for animal bites.
Anti-Rabies Vaccine
Anti-Rabies Vaccine (VAR) is a vaccine or active immunization made of a non-active rabies virus, thus it is harmless and will not cause rabies. VAR is given to those infected after the first aid for animal bites is done. Normally, for people who have never been vaccinated before, vaccines are given 3 or 4 times within 21 days period. Whereas for people who have been vaccinated, they are only given twice in 3 days.
Vaccines can be given prior to exposure (pre-exposure prophylaxis) or after an exposure (post-exposure prophylaxis). Post-exposure prophylaxis vaccination has a purpose to induce the neutralizing antibodies as a further treatment of first aid for animal bites. Anti-Rabies Vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis is given to people at high risk of rabies exposure (zoo workers, veterinarians or people living in high-risk areas of rabies) and if the biting animal cannot be observed. As of now, there are several types of rabies vaccines, among them are human diploid cell vaccine, purified chick embryo cell vaccine, and purified Vero-cell vaccine.
Anti-Rabies Serum
On the other hand, Anti-Rabies Serum (SAR) is a passive immunization composed of Rabies Immunoglobulin. This medication has a function to neutralize the rabies virus on the wound caused by an animal bite and as a further treatment of first aid for animal bites. Furthermore, it can give protection for 7 to 10 days before the induced antibodies emerge. Therefore, Anti-Rabies Serum is not necessary for patients who have already been given the Anti-Rabies Vaccine up to 7 days prior.
Anti-Rabies Serum (SAR) is given to those with high-risk wounds, for example, patients with multiple wounds as well as wounds on dermatome areas such as the face, the head, the neck, fingertips, toes, and saliva contact on the mucous membrane. The dosage of anti-rabies serum for each person may vary, depending on the patient’s body weight. As of now, Anti-Rabies Serum has two variants, the one obtained from human or Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG) and the one obtained from horses or Purified Equine Rabies Immunoglobulin (PERIG).
If you or your loved ones got bitten by an infected animal, it is advised to immediately seek medical care and get vaccinated. Getting rabies vaccination at your home is now easier by booking vaccination service through Medi-Call Application or simply contact Medi-Call Hotline at +62 81210783387.