Rabies death in Pathanamthitta: Abhirami was attacked by a pet dog, says mother

Pathanamthitta: Abhirami, who died of rabies infection in Perinad here was bitten by a pet dog, informed her mother Rajani. She claimed that the dog belonged to the German Shepherd breed and it had a belt around the neck.

Rajani accused the doctors at Pathanamthitta General Hospital of negligence and raised serious allegations against them. The Perinad family health centre was closed when Abhirami’s parents took her to the health centre. Soon, they rushed her to the General Hospital in Pathanamthitta. 

The parents have themselves cleaned the wound after buying soap. The hospital authorities had informed that the necessary precautions were administered in the initial four hours after the bite. However, there was a major injury near her eyes and Rajani asked why don't the doctors referred Abhirami to another hospital if there was a chance of infection. 

Abhirami was attacked by a dog on August 13. She sustained eight bites, including the area near her eyes, shoulder and neck. The first dose of the anti-rabies vaccine along with immunoglobulin, which is usually administered for severe dog bites was given before discharging her from the General hospital.

Abhirami was admitted to the children’s hospital in Kottayam Govt. Medical College when her health condition deteriorated last Friday. The treatment proceeded under a special medical team. The officials said that the virus had critically infected Abhirami’s brain by this time. 

The dog bites on the head and face may cause the virus to affect the brain quickly even though the vaccination was given as soon as possible, said Dr KP Jayaprakash, Superintendent of the hospital.