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CASE REPORT
Hypovolaemic shock by rat bites. A paradigmatic case of social deprivation
http://emj.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/21/5/640
A Donoso, J León, G Rojas, M Ramírez and B Oberpaur
Paediatric Critical Care Unit, Padre Hurtado Hospital, Santiago, Chile
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr A Donoso
Paediatric Critical Care Unit, Padre Hurtado Hospital, Santiago, Chile;
adonoso at (no spam) hurtadohosp.cl
ABSTRACT
This report describes an unusual complication of a comparatively common
problem of rat bites, causing a near fatal case of hypovolaemic shock. An 8
month old girl was bitten on her head and hands by Norway rats (Rattus
norvegicus) while sleeping after falling from her parent’s bed. She could
not be attended to because of her parents’ alcoholic condition. She was
found in hypovolaemic shock. She required ventilatory and haemodynamic
support for five days. At late follow up, the child had no medical problem.
In this case, evident social risk factors include extreme poverty, poor
hygiene, and rat infested environment, which are frequently associated in
potential rat bite victims. |
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