Animal Bite Treatment in India

Reyansh Sharma, a 28-year-old software engineer...

Reyansh Sharma, a 28-year-old software engineer and avid hiker, was bitten on the lower leg by a stray dog while on a weekend trek. He initially cleaned the wound himself. Four days later, he developed fever, chills, and severe pain, redness, and swelling spreading from the bite site. His primary care physician in Internal Medicine, Dr. Kapoor, examined the angry, pus-filled wound and expressed immediate concern about a rapidly progressing cellulitis and potential deeper infection. Dr. Kapoor recommended urgent wound exploration, debridement (cleaning out dead tissue), and deep irrigation under local anesthesia in the clinic procedure room to prevent sepsis. During the procedure, Reyansh was anxious but felt relief as the pressure from the infection was released. The wound was left open to drain and heal from the inside out. He required a 10-day course of intravenous antibiotics followed by oral ones. The recovery was slow and required daily wound care, but the infection cleared completely. Emotionally, Reyansh shifted from initial denial and embarrassment over 'a simple dog bite' to fear during the severe infection, and finally to gratitude and a newfound respect for even minor wounds. He now carries a small first-aid kit on all his hikes.