TY - JOUR T1 - Management of dog bites in children JF - Canadian Family Physician JO - Can Fam Physician SP - 1094 LP - 1096 VL - 58 IS - 10 AU - Vikram Sabhaney AU - Ran D. Goldman Y1 - 2012/10/01 UR - http://www.cfp.ca/content/58/10/1094.abstract N2 - Question A 4-year-old girl was playing with her neighbour’s dog. The dog became excited and bit the girl on the forearm, leaving a puncture wound. As a result of the injury, she has presented to my office. Should she be treated with antibiotics? If so, which antibiotic should be used and for how long? Answer Initiation of prophylactic antibiotics is indicated if the dog bite has undergone primary closure; if there is a moderate or severe bite wound; for puncture wounds (especially if penetration of bone, tendon sheath, or joint), facial bites, bites to the hands or feet, or genital area bites; or wounds sustained by victims who are immunocompromised or asplenic. The first-line choice of antibiotic is amoxicillin-clavulanate. Appropriate tetanus and rabies prophylaxis as indicated should also be a part of caring for a patient who has sustained a dog bite, as well as local debridement and thorough cleaning of the wound. ER -