[Domestic animals and accidents in children].
Young French children have 45,000,000 domestic pets, cats and dogs being widely prevalent (40%). Injuries due to domestic animals, especially bites, in particular from dogs, represent 1.9% of all children's injuries. On the quality of first aid in the field, i.e., whether the treatment is the first line in surgical specialized service or not, if it is a vital emergency, will depend the possibility of immediate complications, which include local superinfection (15%), functionals and further aesthetic sequelae. Some injuries due to large animals carry a polytraumatism, which should be treated like all polytraumatisms, whatever the aetiology. Learning to know and respect animals and their needs should remain the priority of families to avoid unexpected injury. Families also need to take charge of the responsible animal.
Lavaud
J
J
SMUR pediatrique, hôpital Necker-Enfants-Malades, 149 rue de Sèvres, 75743 Paris cedex 15, France.
Vazquez
M P
MP
Bordas
V C
VC
Duval
C
C
D000056:Accident Prevention; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D004285:Dogs; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D013518:Surgery, Plastic