If you are bitten by a hamster and bleeding occurs, you should follow the steps below to deal with it:
Stop Bleeding and Clean the Wound
Firstly, gently press the wound with clean gauze or tissue paper and maintain the pressure for about 5 to 10 minutes to help the blood clot and stop the bleeding. Then, wash the wound with clean water or soapy water, and disinfect it with iodophor or normal saline to prevent other contaminants from entering the wound and reduce the risk of infection.
Disinfection and Debridement
Seek medical attention in a timely manner and let professional doctors perform debridement. The wound can be rinsed with normal saline and then disinfected with iodophor or alcohol to reduce the chance of infection.
Vaccination
It is recommended to get vaccinated with human rabies vaccine and tetanus vaccine. If the bite is deep, a tetanus vaccine injection may be needed to prevent infection.
Use of Anti-infective Drugs
Under the guidance of a doctor, drugs such as erythromycin ointment and mupirocin ointment can be used for treatment, or antibiotics like amoxicillin and cephradine can be taken orally to prevent infection.
Observe the Wound
During the vaccination period, closely observe the condition of the wound. If symptoms such as redness, swelling, pain, or pus discharge appear, seek medical treatment promptly.
Regarding Whether Vaccination Is Needed, Different Doctors Have Different Suggestions
Some doctors think that in general, vaccination is not necessary for hamster bites, and only local disinfection and debridement are required. However, there are also doctors who recommend getting vaccinated with the rabies vaccine to prevent rabies. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out corresponding treatments according to the doctor's guidance.