Do I need to get a vaccine after being scratched by a cat?
Nov 23, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
In general, if a person is scratched by a cat, they should receive a vaccination. If any discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment at a formal hospital. If the scratch is minor, with no broken skin or only slight scratches, and the cat has been vaccinated and is in good health, the risk of infection is relatively low. In such cases, the injured person can clean and disinfect the wound.
Generally speaking, if someone is scratched by a cat, they should receive vaccination. If any discomfort symptoms occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment at a regular hospital. Detailed analysis is as follows:
If the cat scratch causes skin damage, especially with bleeding, it is usually considered a high-risk exposure, with possible infection by the rabies virus, cat scratch disease, or other pathogens. In this case, regardless of whether the cat has been vaccinated, the injured person should seek medical attention promptly to assess and clean the wound, perform necessary disinfection, and consider receiving relevant vaccinations, such as the rabies vaccine. Particularly when the cat is a stray, its health status is unknown, or its vaccination history is unclear, timely vaccination is necessary.
If the scratch is minor, with no skin breakage or only slight scratches, and the cat has been vaccinated and is in good health, the risk of infection is relatively low. In such cases, the injured person can clean and disinfect the wound and monitor the cat's health. If any abnormalities occur, prompt medical attention should be sought.
