Bat flew into my hair, AIBU to seek further advice?

[SameOldMe]

Sitting in the garden and i bet flew into my head, no obvious marks or bites but terrified me ! Called 111 and they said as no scratches or bites just wait and see. It flew into my hair and in the panic i have no idea if it made contact or not. AIBU to call back and ask for a second opinion? Appreciate this if the second bat post in the last few days.

Yep to this. Look at what it does, and get a simple jab.

Rabies.

EXCEPT IN BATS!!!

Honestly, if you’re going to shout at people, at least make sure you are correct first.

EXCEPT IN BATS!!!

Honestly, if you’re going to shout at people, at least make sure you are correct first.

EXCEPT IN BATS!!!

Honestly, if you’re going to shout at people, at least make sure you are correct first.

Rabies.

As per nhs website: Get medical help immediately if you've been bitten or scratched by a bat in the UK.

In my opinion you have no way of knowing if you were scratched as it would be really hard to see a scratch on a head full of hair. I would say seek medical attention in your situation.

Have you read the resources pp linked to?

Wow, I'm not usually a pearl clutcher but I'm pretty appalled by the level of nastiness and contemptuousness shown by some PPs on this thread. Have a word with yourselves.

I have no idea if the bat broke the OP's skin barrier, but neither do any of you so stop giving shitty advice and bashing the OP.

Suggest that @MNHQ delete some of the factually incorrect posts too, re the presence of rabies in the UK.

Rabies? Don’t fret it’s only 1% chance of getting it but only 100% fatal and that the NHS algorithm treats for this close contact even without a bite as you can’t always see or feel a bite and a trapped flapping bat will bite.

But hoping the fellow armchair warriors tonight.

About 4 years ago I had a large bat get tangled in my hair when I was playing pool outside in Colombia (lent over the table with wet hair) and I have to admit this didn't even occur to me! Odd sensation.

After the last post, I had a bad dream about a bat!

Just googled this.

Apologies @SameOldMe After researching this briefly, I think it may be a good idea actually if you do get medical advice/medical attention.

Excuse my ignorance. I should not have posted until I got the facts.

Here is what I found... From NHS.CO.UK and GOV.UK

Even if you don't feel a bat bite or nip you, it's possible they may have...

Why Bat Bites Go Unnoticed

• Tiny Teeth: Their micro-incisors leave microscopic or faint marks that rarely bleed or cause heavy pain.
• Unconscious States: A person woken up quickly or sleeping soundly might not register a brief touch or light prick from a landing bat.
• Hidden Marks: Puncture wounds can close up fast and disappear from view within a short time.

Risk of Rabies: While only a small percentage of bats carry rabies, the virus is fatal once symptoms start.
When to Act: If you find a bat in a room with a sleeping person, an unattended child, or anyone unable to communicate if a bite happened, public health agencies recommend assuming an exposure occurred (according to the UK Government Guidelines on Rabies Risks from Bat Bites).
Immediate Steps: Wash any suspected contact area right away with plenty of soap and running water, and contact health authorities or your doctor promptly for an evaluation (read guidance from the NHS on Rabies).

Yes it does.

You can’t tell if a bat has bitten you due to the puncture marks often being invisible and so needle like. How do you tell that apart from movement and scratches?

please read the guidance posted by medical here.

I was in a similar situation a few years ago and had a full course of post exposure treatment. The medical advice is get vaccinated. You’ve had direct contact with a bat. Do not take no at a&e until you have seen someone senior, you absolutely do meet the criteria for post exposure vaccination. Bats in the UK have rabies. It isn’t worth the risk and the incubation period can be quite long which would be very stressful for you if you didn’t have treatment. Once symptoms appear it is always fatal with no cure.

OP I agree with previous posters that you should seek advice from an informed medical professional rather than Mumsnet - a lot of people are confidently posting responses to you despite knowing nothing on the topic. There is rabies in bats in the UK (although the vast majority of bats do not have rabies). Bat bites and scratches can be tiny and not visible to the eye and may not be felt. Treatment is effective but must be started before symptoms start. You are probably absolutely fine - but if I were you I would seek medical reassurance.

Did you phone them up as a medical professional and go with the official algorithm?

A&E is who stock it or get the treatment in? Where would you like her to go? Asda to buy it from the shelf?

I have since updated my stance. I do however maintain the view that it is still unlikely. Thankfully.

It's highly unlikely that the bat was rabid, but I'd get further advice and I absolutely would report that 111 operator, because her advice was insane. By the time there are symptoms it's too late, so that couldn't be worse advice. It definitely needs reporting and she needs re-training.

I speak as someone bitten by a dog in one of the poorest countries in Africa, where rabies is far from uncommon. You don't mess about with it (fortunately I'd had the pre exposure vaccination course before travelling, but I still had to get jabbed multiple times again).

Again, it's unlikely to be an issue, but you should still get proper in-person advice.

But some species of bat can carry Bat Lyssavirus which can cause serious illness. The issue with bats is their claws are so small they can puncture the skin and not leave a mark.

Chances are you’ll be totally fine OP.

Which country. The UK is mostly rabies free (thanks to draconian quarantine laws).

Please GO AND WASTE A & Es time.

Very small risk in the UK but 100% fatal. As I saud previously there is a protocol.

Personally, I’d present to Urgent care or the pharmacy tomorrow and get them to start the Rabies vaccines. Whether that’s the correct thing to do is hard to say, but not a chance in hell I’d risk it. I’d probably pay for it tbh (not that you should need to).