Rabies: dogs can be fun, but also dangerous for children

Pets are a part of many children's lives. Positive relationships with dogs and other pets help develop trusting relationships with others. A good relationship with a pet also helps develop non-verbal communication, compassion and empathy. Cuddling a pet reduces stress, loneliness and anxiety.

What more? A child's relationship with their dog could provide a much-needed connection to nature as they walk the dog or lie down and play with it. Spending time like this has the incredible potential to slow down the hectic pace of modern life.

When a child plays with a dog or cat, the animals usually lick it. Although most children are gentle and appropriate with dogs, some are not and end up being bitten. But in a rabies-infected dog or cat, a lick or bite can transmit the rabies virus that lives in the animals' mouths to the child.

Rabies is caused by a virus present in an infected animal and transmitted to humans through bites or scratches. When the rabies virus enters the body, it can travel along nerve pathways to the brain. It causes severe symptoms beginning with pain, tingling and numbness at the site of the bite or scratch and progresses rapidly.

According to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), more than 95% of human rabies cases are due to dog bites and 40% of rabies victims are children under the age of 15. Some victims, especially children, do not realize they have been exposed until it is too late.

The awareness and attitude of people under the age of 15 towards canine rabies is poor. A cross-sectional survey of rabies awareness and attitude of 1,388 students under 15 in Kwara State revealed that only 21.7% of them were aware of rabies. rage. It was in the 2022 edition of PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

There are about two dogs per household and about 5% of students have been bitten by a dog. A third of dog bite victims received care and treatment at home and only 12% received care in a health facility.

Unfortunately, “As long as there are reservoir hosts for the virus, it will continue to be transmitted to humans and we will still have cases of rabies. rabies are called friends of humans,” said Professor Daniel Oluwayelu, virologist and former head of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology at the University of Ibadan.

According to him, rabies has become one of those diseases classified as chamber zoonoses; especially in the advanced world where people even sleep on the same bed, kiss and have very close relationships with their pets.

He added: “The rabies virus can be transmitted through saliva; they can easily get saliva on their face when they kiss their dogs and thus get infected. Dogs are kept as guard animals due to insecurity in the country. Likewise, many hunters still keep their hunting dogs."

Professor Oluwayelu said it was important to vaccinate dogs and other pets against rabies because rabies kills very quickly, faster than any of these diseases.

"Once it has entered, through a bite to the leg or arm, rabies has an affinity for the nervous system. It goes directly into the nervous system and goes up from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system. It takes a few days, so rabies kills faster than HIV/AIDS or TB, which even takes months before you can start feeling its signs and symptoms, so it's not something we should underestimate at all,” he added.

He said, however, that individuals, including children, should be responsible for the health of their dogs, cats and other pets.

“Rabies is always present, so vaccinating dogs, cats and other pets against rabies should be a priority. Puppies are supposed to be vaccinated against rabies at three months, then followed up with booster doses annuals.

“There is something called responsible dog ownership. In developed countries, you are not allowed to keep dogs unless it has been proven that you are responsible. Vaccination of these animals is very crucial. A vaccinated dog receives a certificate. In some climates, a vaccinated dog also receives a special collar which he wears on his neck. And animals without these collars are taken off the street."

On the contrary, educating children on how to properly approach an animal, including safety precautions, is essential to avoid being bitten. This includes asking permission from the owner before engaging a pet and touching it gently. Not going near an unfamiliar animal, picking up a stray or letting a dog lick its face, cuts or scratches is also essential.

WHO recommends that if bitten by a dog, wash the wound thoroughly with water and soap, detergent, povidone iodine or other substances that kill the rabies virus, then consult a suitable doctor as well as an anti-...