Many people are exposed to bites by animals, especially children. The bite can cause a minor wound, but with serious complications. One of the most serious complications is rabies, so you should know what to do when you are bitten.
Types of bites:
Dog bite:
It often happens to children, and the most common places to bite are the head and neck. As for adults, the most common places to bite are the arms and legs, especially the right hand. Injuries range from scratches, deep open wounds, and lacerations. Dog bites rarely lead to death.
Cat bites:
Cats cause wounds with their teeth and claws, and the infection is often on the upper extremities (such as: arms, hands, and face), and deep wounds are a source of concern; Because cats have long and sharp teeth, so it is possible for bacteria to reach the bone or joint, which leads to inflammation, but in the event of infection, it causes redness, swelling and severe pain in a quick time from 12 to 24 hours after the bite.
Rodent bites:
One of the most famous is rats, and bites occur at night, often on the hands or face.
Human bites:
Children are more susceptible to this type of bite as a result of playing with an aggressive child. The bite is in a semicircular or oval shape and has redness, bruises or holes in the place of the teeth, and it is often on the face, upper limbs or trunk (chest or abdomen).
Risk of exposure to rabies:
Anyone who has been bitten by an animal (such as: a raccoon, fox, wolf or bat) needs immediate medical attention even if the injury is minor, as these animals may be carriers of rabies.
First aid for bites:
Because of the risk of infection, you should go to the emergency room within 24 hours of any bite that breaks the skin, but before that you should:
- Wash the wound with running water and soap, as this reduces the incidence of infection.
- Try to stop the bleeding by pressing on the wound with clean bandage.
- Apply an antibiotic cream to reduce the risk of infection.
Then report to the emergency department to find out the necessary vaccinations, such as:
- Treatment of rabies, depending on the status of the animal's vaccination.
- Receive the tetanus vaccine if the person was not previously vaccinated sufficiently.
When to see a doctor:
- When there is severe bleeding that does not stop after pressing for 15 minutes or feeling severe pain.
- When you notice a high body temperature, redness of the wound, or a feeling of pain or swelling.
- If the bite is deep, and five years have passed since the last tetanus vaccination.
- If the bite wound is large.
- If the patient suffers from diabetes, liver disease, cancer or a weakened immune system.