12-Week-Old Infant Girl Riddled With Rat Bites On Face

Story By: John FengSub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report   

These images show a 12-week-old girl’s face has been riddled with bite marks after a pack of rats chewed on her face and ripped pieces of flesh from her nose.

The girl’s parents, who live in Shuangbai County in China’s south-western province of Yunnan, drove eight hours to provincial capital Kunming after doctors in their local hospitals could not treat her.

Picture Credit: CEN

The couple claimed they had only left their daughter alone for over 10 minutes when her cries alerted them to the horrific rodent attack.

Paediatrics experts at Kunming Children’s Hospital performed emergency surgery on the three-month-old, who they say faces the prospect of having her appearance severely affected.

Lou Fan, an ENT specialist, told local media: “We did a rough count and found more than 100 bite wounds.

Picture Credit: CEN

“There were simply too many. It’s impossible to know the precise number, but it’s very serious.”

Resident Zhang Henglong noted: “The right side of her nose has exposed the bone.

“The child’s parents said they left her alone for just over 10 minutes. They heard her crying and found her surrounded by many rats.

“It happened after they had fed her. Rats are attracted by the smell of food, and the nose is most exposed on her face.

“The nose and ears are more likely to be bitten.”

Picture Credit: CEN

Blurred images of the girl’s face show her soft skin riddled with bloodied bite marks, and her right nostril exposed after having been ripped open by the rats.

The hospital said the child had already undergone preliminary surgery to reattach flaps of loose skin and flesh.

However, a series of cosmetic procedures are likely to follow in order to ensure her appearance – and by extension, her self-esteem – is not affected by the incident.

Doctor Lou noted there is always a high risk of rabies with animal attacks.

The girl, who is expected to be discharged in the coming days if no further complications arise, will be immunised at the city’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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