NEW DELHI: An eight-year-old girl died after bitten by a stray dog. The incident happened at Pinahat village in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The dog bit her two weeks ago while she was playing in the village.

The girl's parents did not divulge this to anyone outside and treated her at home. Dr Srivastava, a medical officer in Agra, told the media that anti-rabies vaccine was not given for the child. The girl showed symptoms of the rabies after fifteen days.

The parents then took her to the nearest primary treatment center. The child was shifted to a nearby hospital after her condition worsened. However, the hospital authorities directed to shift the child to a hospital with better facilities.

The authorities said the girl was pronounced dead before reaching the hospital. Dr Jitendra Verma, head of the primary health center, clarified that the cause of death was that the girl was not treated on time. Every month more than 5000 cases of dog bites are reported in hospitals in various parts of Agra. If you are not vaccinated within eight hours of being bitten by a dog, you will be infected with rabies virus.

Things to do to prevent dog bite infections

1) Wash the wound
If bitten by a dog, first wash the part carefully. This reduces the chance of infection. After assessing the severity of the wound, wash the entire area with soap and warm water for five to 10 minutes. Then use antibacterial lotion on it.

2) Dress the wound
After washing and cleaning the wound, cover it with a sterile bandage and see a doctor immediately.

3) Change the bandage regularly
Change the bandage daily. Keep the wound sterile

If have the following symptoms, should inform doctor immediately
If bleeding does not stop on the wound of the bite
Severe pain and discomfort in the wound.
For a deep wound, if it is red or swollen
Flow of pus or fluid from the wound.

A dog bite can sometimes even damage the nerve. It also damages muscles and blood vessels. There have also been cases of broken bones after bitten by some dogs. Rabies can be transmitted not only from dogs but also from other animals. Injuries caused by dog claws can also cause poisoning. So, seek medical help immediately if this happens. It can be life threatening if proper prevention is not taken.