World Health Organization (WHO) Categories of Contact with a Potentially Rabid Animal

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies exposures to potentially rabid animals in order to help guide management.

Parameters:

(1) contact with intact skin

(2) contact with broken skin

(3) contact with mucous membranes

(4) scratches, abrasions, bites or nibbles

Parameter	Finding	Category
contact with intact skin	touching	I
	feeding	I
	licks or saliva on intact skin	I
contact with broken skin	llicks or saliva on broken skin	II
contact with mucous membranes	licks or saliva on mucous membrane	III
scratches, abrasions, bites or nibbles	any by bat	III
	minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding	II
	transdermal bites or scratches	III

Category	Management
I	no treatment necessary
II	immediate vaccination
III	immediate vaccination, administration of rabies immune globulin, washing and flushing of all wounds and scratches

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