a chipmunk bit LO yesterday... i think she might be sick

LO was camping with her dad and his side of the family all weekend and she ended up getting bit by a chipmunk. I guess she was feeding it (must have been very used to people) and she was able to corner it by the shoreline and attempted to pick it up. It bit her and she has multiple scrape marks on her hand. BD took her to the hosptial and I met them there. The doctor didnt seem concerned whatsoever and said rabies is so scarce in North America, a chipmunk is not an animal he would be worried about. Raccoon, coyote yeah sure. I was told to watch for infection and we left.

but she woke up at 8:30 and 2 hours later started whining about this and that. She hasnt eaten much. So I snuggled with her on the couch and we shared an apple which is like her favorite thing to do with me while we are home. She had like 4-5 pieces then told me I could have the rest. I stroked her hair and she fell asleep.

This child does not, i repeat, not nap EVER unless she's sick. She is quite warm but her extremities are pretty cool to the touch and she is down for the count right now. I called my mom, who is a nurse and she said she is going to come by on her way to work but is assuming she is just exhausted from the camping trip but im freaked. What do you guys think???

I think she is probably fine and yes tired from camping

I think that you should take her to the doctor. I'm sorry she's sick.  

As long as she doesnt have a fever, I think everything should be fine. Just keep an eye on it. My son had a crazy week and came home a couple days ago, fell asleep around 4:30 woke up at 7 to eat a teeny bit, showered and was out again at 830 for the rest of the night. And he never does that either. So I wouldnt worry TOO much.

I think I would take her back to the Er. Lethargic and declining food is first signs of infection. That thing could've carried anything, did they give an antibiotic just in case?

Rabies starts with rejecting food and water. I had a bat and a squirrel in my back yard with rabies.

<blockquote><b>Quoting SmashleynSmallyPants:</b>" LO was camping with her dad and his side of the family all weekend and she ended up getting bit by a ... [snip!] ... by on her way to work but is assuming she is just exhausted from the camping trip but im freaked. What do you guys think???"</blockquote>




I would be concerned take her to urgent care where she can see a diff doc and get another opinion

Didn't the dr say anything about a tetanus vaccination? It's not common to get tetanus from an animal bite, but down here it's mandatory to get a tetanus boost in case a wild animal or a street animal bites you

Quoting Lil Dude's Mamma:" Didn't the dr say anything about a tetanus vaccination? It's not common to get tetanus from an animal ... [snip!] ... from an animal bite, but down here it's mandatory to get a tetanus boost in case a wild animal or a street animal bites you"

I have never heard of that

<blockquote><b>Quoting SmashleynSmallyPants:</b>" LO was camping with her dad and his side of the family all weekend and she ended up getting bit by a ... [snip!] ... by on her way to work but is assuming she is just exhausted from the camping trip but im freaked. What do you guys think???"</blockquote>




Oh God that's scary...I would be freaking too! Then again I live in Texas and have been around rabies ( racoon) before eeeek. I would take her in just in case....I highly doubt rabies but maybe secondary infection? How does the bite look? Crazy chipmunk!

Quoting Nao:" I think I would take her back to the Er. Lethargic and declining food is first signs of infection. That ... [snip!] ... antibiotic just in case? Rabies starts with rejecting food and water. I had a bat and a squirrel in my back yard with rabies."

No I assumed we would get a prescription for something but he said it would be fine. He was more joking that he was impressed she was able to actually catch the chipmunk.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Lil Dude's Mamma:</b>" Didn't the dr say anything about a tetanus vaccination? It's not common to get tetanus from an animal ... [snip!] ... from an animal bite, but down here it's mandatory to get a tetanus boost in case a wild animal or a street animal bites you"</blockquote>




Thats odd....if the wound bled you don't need to worry about tetanus mama....tetanus doesn't survive when exposed to oxygen

Quoting Lil Dude's Mamma:" Didn't the dr say anything about a tetanus vaccination? It's not common to get tetanus from an animal ... [snip!] ... from an animal bite, but down here it's mandatory to get a tetanus boost in case a wild animal or a street animal bites you"

BD called the nurses line from where they were and a nurse said they may want to do her 4-6 year vaccine early but then the doc in the ER didnt think it was necessary. The thing is, if I got bit by an animal I'd like like "Yeah give me a needle like NOW" but he was like "No, no- I see no reason. Just watch for infection"

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/childhood-illnesses/bites-human-animal

"

TETANUS SHOT
If your child has had a tetanus shot within the past 7 years, then he does not need a booster. If it has been 7 years or more, then a booster is recommended. This only applies to bites that tear or deeply puncture the skin, not minor nips or scrapes. If a bite occurs in the evening, the tetanus shot can wait until the next day.
RABIES
This is a virus that, if it invades and causes an infection, is virtually always fatal. There are only about 1 or 2 fatal cases each year in the U.S. thanks to the use of rabies vaccination and immune globulin treatments given when a human is bitten by a rabid animal. Here is a list of animals known to be at risk of carrying rabies:
Animals that pose the highest risk:

• Bats
• Raccoons
• Skunks
• Foxes
• Bears
• Opossums
• Weasels
• Wolves
• Woodchucks

Animals that pose less risk:

• Immunized dogs
• Immunized cats
• Immunized ferrets

Animals that pose virtually no risk:

• Squirrels
• Hamsters
• Rats
• Mice
• Rabbits
• Hamsters
• Chipmunks
• Guinea pigs
• Gerbils"

Quoting Mama Lizzy :]:" <blockquote><b>Quoting SmashleynSmallyPants:</b>" LO was camping with her dad and his ... [snip!] ... would take her in just in case....I highly doubt rabies but maybe secondary infection? How does the bite look? Crazy chipmunk!"

Its like a whole bunch of little scrapes. I guess he was probably wriggling in her hand to get free. They are red around each scrape but it doesnt appear to have any swelling. She's so curled up in her blanket right now I cant get a good look...

<blockquote><b>Quoting SmashleynSmallyPants:</b>" BD called the nurses line from where they were and a nurse said they may want to do her 4-6 year vaccine ... [snip!] ... by an animal I'd like like "Yeah give me a needle like NOW" but he was like "No, no- I see no reason. Just watch for infection""</blockquote>



If she's fighting off something I wouldn't vaccinate unless you know exactly what it is..vaccinating suppresses the immune system to other illnesses for a little while. Plus treatment for rabies is very uncomfortable even painful and expensive as hell