Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Devises New Treatment Guidelines for Pediatric Dog-Bite Victims

As seen in the July/August issue of Advancing Care

Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) in Valhalla and the only all-specialty pediatric facility in the Hudson Valley, recently devised a series of guidelines to treat children who are the victims of dog bites.

The study was conducted by Kaveh Alizadeh, MD, Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of WMCHealth. Published by the American College of Plastic Surgeons, the study concluded that children who are younger and who experience a bite from a large dog require more immediate care in Level I Pediatric Trauma Centers, to ensure timely care and the best possible outcome.

During the study, 108 patients, ranging in age from five months to 18 years old, were treated in the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital Emergency Department after suffering dog-bite injuries. The highest incidence of dog bites occurred in preschool children.

Visit us at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network, to learn more. Advancing Care. Here.