Rabies suspected animal contact cases

Dear Editor, the recent report on “Rabies Suspected Animal Contact Cases” is very interesting.1 Dagar et al noted that “not only were there unnecessary vaccine and Ig applications, there were also missing prophylaxis procedures.1” In fact, the post exposure prophylaxis for rabies is very important and any patients have to be educated for the necessity of the prophylaxis. The first issue on unnecessary vaccination is widely discussed. One might argue that universal vaccination to any suspicious case is better despite it seems not cost effective since rabies is a deadly infection.2 However, the exact problem is on how to get the correct exposure history and the careful wound examination is needed.3 For the second issue of missing prophylaxis, the problem is also common in our countries where rabies is very common.3 The rate of is high and it is as previously suggested that each patient has to be well educated for the requirement of follow-up.4

Peer review under responsibility of The Emergency Medicine Association of Turkey.

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References

1. Dagar S, Sahin S, Oray D, Akkaya A, Kama A, Ucan G. Rabies suspected animal contact cases in a city with animal husbandry and the appropriateness of pro- phylactic procedures. Turk J Emerg Med. 2016 Mar 2;15:79e84.
2. Pokee N, Wiwanitkit V. Dog bite, immunoglobulin, and preexposure vaccination. Afr J Paediatr Surg. 2015 Jan-Mar;12:100.
3. WiwanitkitV.Missedappointmentinrabiesvaccinationschedule.ArqNeuropsi- quiatr. 2012 Oct;70:834.
4. Wiwanitkit V. Role of nurse in giving detailed rabies vaccination advice is key. Nurs Stand. 2014 Jul 15;28:33.