Does my kid need rabies vaccine if a stray dog licked his hand?

Question

Hello doctor,

A stray dog came near my 3 years and eight months old toddler. Its mouth was very near his hand. I do not know if it licked his hand or not but I just got worried. He has no open bleeding wound but yes mosquito bite sites and many minute abrasions because of playing. In the last two years, he has been given a tetanus shot also. I do not know what to do. I did not see the dog licking his hand but was very close to his hand, maybe for sniffing it came near. The dog looked fine, not overactive or underactive. It was a stray dog, so cannot watch it also. Please suggest what to do. Such incidents wherein a dog comes near or sniffs might happen in the future also and with kids, you cannot be sure if they were licked or not. Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Just licking on unbroken skin comes under category-1 exposure. Here no vaccination is needed. But if licking was on abraded skin then better to get vaccinated. If you are not sure about licking on the abraded skin and if dog not traceable than better to get vaccinated for rabies. Once the child is vaccinated, it protects the child for many years. But still, after completion of five doses, a booster after one year can be taken. Thank you and take care. Regards.