The girl, from Ba Gia commune, Quang Ngai province, was brought to the hospital by her family on the afternoon of 9/5, in a state of panic with a long, bleeding laceration on her head.

The child in her mother's arms after doctors sutured the wound. Photo: Kim Ny

Her family reported that she was bitten by their German Shepherd while playing with it. Her maternal grandfather discovered the incident and called for help. Doctors noted a wound approximately 25 cm long, exposing the skull.

She received pressure bandaging to control bleeding, pain relief, and a rabies vaccine injection. She also underwent surgery to treat the wound, including debridement and reconstructive suturing of the head. By the afternoon of 11/5, the girl's health had stabilized, and she continued to be monitored in the Surgery Department.

According to doctors, hot weather increases the risk of rabies. Parents should not allow young children to play with dogs or cats, even household pets, without adult supervision.

If a child is bitten or scratched by an animal, the wound should be quickly cleaned under running water, and the child should be taken to a medical facility for prompt treatment and vaccination. The pet should be monitored for several days, not killed or lost, to assess the risk of rabies.

Currently, the dog continues to be monitored by the family.

Kim Ny - Thach Thao