After Contact With a Bat: How to Care for Your Child

Anyone who has contact with a bat is at risk for rabies. Rabies is caused by a virus (a type of germ). If it's not treated before symptoms start, rabies almost always leads to death. Rabies shots are very good at preventing rabies in people who are exposed to the virus.

Someone is at risk for rabies if:

• a live bat bites, scratches, or touches them

• they touch a dead bat

• a live bat is in the room while they're sleeping

• they are a baby or child, and a bat was near them

Your child needs treatment to prevent rabies. Treatment includes:

• a thorough cleaning of any wounds

• two shots today: the rabies immune globulin (to fight the rabies virus right away) and the rabies vaccine (which causes the body to form antibodies to fight the rabies virus)

• three more doses of the rabies vaccine over the next 2 weeks

• Your child needs the rabies immune globulin and shot as soon as possible. If your health care provider doesn't have the rabies immune globulin and shot, follow their instructions on where to get it.

• Your child will also need three more doses of rabies vaccines, which usually are given on days 3, 7, and 14 (your child got the first vaccine on day 0). Bring your child back for these exactly as the health care provider recommends.

• If your child has pain around the area of the animal bite or scratch or where they got the rabies shot and your health care provider says it's OK, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand) OR ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand). Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old. Follow the directions on the label for how much medicine to give and how often.

Your child:

• gets any new symptoms, such as a fever, headache, tiredness, nausea (feeling sick to the stomach), or muscle pain

• has a prickling or itching feeling around the area of the bite or scratch or where they got the rabies shot

• may have had contact with rabies again

• has redness, swelling, or pus draining from the bite or scratch wound

It is extremely rare, but someone can have an allergic reaction to the rabies shot. Call 911 right away if your child has any signs of a serious allergic reaction. These can include swelling of the face or mouth, hoarseness, wheezing, trouble breathing, hives, paleness, weakness, dizziness, vomiting, or a fast heartbeat.

How do people get rabies? The virus most often spreads through bites from an infected animal. But it can also spread if the animal's saliva (spit) gets directly into a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound (such as a scratch or a scrape).

How can we prevent bats from getting into our home? It can help to:

• Check for openings that bats could use to get inside (including around electrical wires and plumbing). Seal openings that are bigger than a dime with caulk.

• Have someone check any chimneys for openings and use screens, chimney caps, and draft guards to block them.

• Seal doors that lead up to the attic.

• Make sure doors leading outside close tightly.

You also can contact animal control, a wildlife conservation agency, or pest control for help in keeping bats out of your home.

What can help prevent rabies? It's important to:

• Take steps to keep bats out of the house.

• Make sure your pets get the rabies vaccine.

• Stay away from wild animals.

• Call your local health animal control department if you see stray animals or animals acting unusually (for example, an aggressive dog or animal).

• Wash animal bites or scratches right away with soap and water and get medical care.