Tracy Ridout dies after catching rare infection from dog bite
Tracy Ridout dies after contracting a rare infection from a dog bite
A mother who contracted a rare bacterial infection after being bitten by a dog has sadly passed away.
Tracy Ridout, 53, was babysitting a friend’s German Shepherd earlier this month and tried to throw a toy when the dog playfully pinched her finger.
The mother, from Perth, was in excruciating pain days later and finally drove to Rockingham General Hospital on August 18, where she discovered she had an infection in her kidneys, liver and blood.
Mrs. Ridout had contracted capnocytophaga canimorsus, an extremely rare bacterial infection that is transmitted from an animal through a bite or lick.
She was transferred to Fiona Stanley Hospital as her condition rapidly deteriorated and her organs began to shut down.
Doctors told her devastated family on Friday there was nothing more they could do and sadly her daughter announced on Tuesday that she had passed away.
Perth mother Tracy Ridout (right with daughter Sophie) contracted capnocytophaga canimorsus, an infection that spread to her kidneys, liver and blood
“Sadly, Tracy has sadly passed away,” her daughter Sophie wrote on one GoFundMe page.
“She will be missed by all her friends and family.”
Sophie and her brother Kieren spoke out last week to warn others to seek urgent medical attention for a dog bite, no matter how minor.
“Even if it’s just a small dog bite, because that’s what happened to my mom, it wasn’t a nasty attack,” she said.
Kieren added: “Obviously we didn’t know what to look for and Mom didn’t know what to look for either, and I don’t think any of us knew.”
“When Grandpa explained to us what was going on, I was kind of shocked that it went from a dog bite to – we don’t know what.
“I’m just trying to be strong… the knowledge has to be public because God forbid this happens to someone else’s mother or someone’s relative in any way.”
The bacteria is commonly found in the mouths of cats and dogs, but rarely causes disease in humans.
Symptoms include blisters near the wound, redness, swelling, pain, or fever.
“The people who are at high risk for an infected animal bite are those with compromised immune systems, including people with diabetes,” said Dr. Michael Page, President of the Australian Medical Association WA.
“We recommend that almost any animal bite be looked at by a doctor so that it can be properly cleaned and monitored closely.”
Tracy died on Tuesday after a courageous fight for her life (pictured in hospital)
Tracy Ridout’s family is now speaking out on the ordeal to raise awareness about seeking urgent medical attention after a dog bite