Accidents in the child (pets)

Young French children have 45,000,000 domestic pets, cats and dogs being widely prevalent (40%). Injuries due to domestic animals, especially bites, in particular from dogs, represent 1.9% of all children's injuries. On the quality of first aid on the field, i.e. whether the treatment is the first line in surgical specialized service or not, if it is a vital emergency, will depend the possibility of immediate complications, which include local superinfection (15%), functionals and further aesthetic sequelae. Some injuries due to large animals carry a polytraumatism, which should be treated like all polytraumatisms, whatever the aetiology. Learning to know and respect animals and their needs should remain the priority aim of families to avoid unexpected injury. Families also need to take charge of the responsible animal. (C) 2004 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.