Serious animal and human bites can get infected if they're not checked and treated quickly. Always seek medical advice if you have been bitten by an animal or person and the bite has broken the skin.
People and animals have a lot of bacteria in their
mouths, which can cause an infection if a bite breaks the skin. These infections are rarely serious if treated
quickly, but occasionally they can spread to the blood or other parts of the
body.
Serious infections such as tetanus and rabies are extremely rare in the UK,
but it's important to get serious bites looked at as treatment to prevent these
infections may be recommended.
The following information is about bites by people and animals such as dogs and cats. There are separate pages on insect bites and snake bites.
Photo showing the skin marks of a dog bite.
What to do if you have been bitten
If you have been bitten by an animal or another person:
- clean
the wound immediately by running warm tap water over it for a couple of
minutes – it is a good idea to do this even if the skin doesn't appear
to be broken
- remove
any objects from the bite, such as teeth, hair or dirt
- encourage
the wound to bleed slightly by gently squeezing it, unless it is already
bleeding freely
- if
the wound is bleeding heavily, put a clean pad or sterile dressing over it
and apply pressure
- dry
the wound and cover it with a clean dressing or plaster
- take
painkillers if you're in pain, such as paracetamol (Panadol) or ibuprofen (neurofen) – children under 16
years old shouldn't take aspirin
- seek
medical advice, unless the wound is very minor.
If the bite has severed a body part like a finger
or ear, wash it with tap water, wrap it in clean tissue, and store it in a
plastic bag surrounded by ice so it can be transported to hospital. It may be
possible to surgically reattach the body part later on.
Schematic diagram showing the warning signs of an imminent dog bite attack.
When to seek medical advice
If the bite has broken the skin, you should seek immediate medical attention after cleaning the wound. Do not delay seeking help until symptoms of infection appear.
Minor bites can be treated at your doctor's / GP
surgery, or by staff at your local walk-in centre or minor injuries unit. For particularly
severe bites, visit your local accident and emergency (A&E) department.
The healthcare professional treating you may:
- clean
the wound and remove any damaged tissue
- prescribe
a course of antibiotics to prevent infection
- recommend
specific treatment to prevent infections such as tetanus if you are
felt to be at risk
- close
the wound with stitches if the risk of infection is thought to be
low – high-risk wounds will usually be left open as this means
they are easier to keep clean
- arrange blood tests to check for
infection, or an X-ray to check for any damage to
your bones and see if there's anything embedded in your wound, such as a
tooth
- refer
you for an assessment by a specialist if the bite penetrated a joint, or
there's severe damage, such as damage to bones or nerves – surgery may be
needed in these cases
- if
you are bitten by a person with hepatitis or HIV, there is a tiny chance of the
infection spreading if the bite is contaminated with blood, so you may be
offered treatment to stop you becoming infected.
When you return home, watch out for signs of a
possible infection.
Signs a bite may be infected
Symptoms that suggest a wound has become infected include:
- redness
and swelling around the wound
- the
wound feels warm and increasingly painful
- liquid
or pus leaks from the wound
- a
fever of 38C (100.4F) or above
- sweats
and chills
- swollen glands under the chin or
in the neck, armpits or groin
- red
streaks extending along the skin from the wound.
Get medical help as soon as possible if you think
your wound is infected.
When do bites happen?
Although you may be more worried about bites from wild and stray animals, any animal has the potential to bite. Many bites are actually caused by a person's own pet or an animal belonging to a friend or neighbour.
Animals can act unpredictably and bites aren't
always provoked. However, an animal is more likely to bite if it's been
disturbed, feels threatened, or gets overexcited.
Most human bites occur when one person punches another person in the mouth. They can also happen during contact sports, vigorous sex, domestic violence or sexual assault, and fits (seizures).
How to avoid animal bites
Most animal bites are caused by dogs. The advice below may help reduce the chances of being bitten:
- never
leave a young child unsupervised with a dog – regardless of what type
of dog it is and its previous behaviour
- treat
dogs with respect – do not approach them suddenly, run around
screaming in their presence, or interrupt them when they are
eating or sleeping
- avoid
stroking or petting unfamiliar dogs – when greeting a dog for
the first time, let it sniff you before petting it.
It is also a good idea to avoid contact with any
wild or stray animals, particularly while travelling abroad, as they can be
aggressive and there is a chance they could carry serious infections, such
as rabies.
Source: NHS Choices