Protected from the immune system, a cat bite infection can rapidly spread. Apply an antibiotic ointment and cover with a non-stick bandage. The best way to know if youre dealing with bedbugs is to look for evidence of them in your home. Privacy Policy A regular cat bite that just breaks the skin isn't really anything to worry about. 8600 Rockville Pike Camacho Zamora P, Romn Cabello M, lvarez Garca P, Vzquez Canal E. Rev Esp Quimioter. PMC You need to remove the . 4th ed., Gainesville Fla.: Barmarrae Books; 2003. Of those admitted to the hospital, 38 patients needed surgery to clean the wound or remove infected tissue. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Should You Pop the Blisters Caused by Fire Ant Stings? From furniture, scratching posts, beds and toys to food dishes and litter boxes, youll find everything you need for your feline family members.View the Product Guide. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in biological sciences from. and While 3-18 percent of dog bites become infected. 2002 Jan;34(1):22-9. doi: 10.1055/s-2002-22103. The second digit was warm to touch, red, and swollen. Before . "They can be very serious. Cats are also the main reservoir of Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch disease, which was confirmed in the presented patient by serological examination. Cat bites may look small, but they can turn into serious problems. 2. If you know the cat thats bitten you has a rabies vaccine, its unlikely that youll contract rabies. Brandon P. Donnelly, MD is not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information, services or product you obtain through this site. If a cat bite breaks your skin, you should seek medical attention if: A cat bite carries a high risk of infection and can be dangerous. BP was 120/78 mm Hg, pulse 98 beats per minute, pulse oxygenation 97%, temperature 98.8F, and weight 290 lbs. Minor injuries from family pets may lead to serious wounds, facial damage, and emotional problems. The bacteria injected by a cat bite can include a strain common in animals and particularly hard to fight with antibiotics, he says. These include: An infection from a cat bite may set in within a few hours, but it can take 10 days or more for some infections, like cat-scratch disease, to start showing symptoms. Signs and Symptoms Signs that your bite may be infected include: Swelling Redness Warmth Continued pain beyond 24 hours Drainage from the wound Signs that your infection may be spreading include: Red streaks up the arm or forearm Swollen glands around the elbow or in the armpit Fever Tiredness Night sweats Shakes Once trapped under the skin, these bacteria spread and multiply, causing infection and inflammation (cellulitis) of the surrounding soft tissues. The drug of choice is amoxicillin/clavulanate 875 mg/125 mg b.i.d. Erythema and pain localized to the bite suggest infection. And while cuts. 2020 Jun 3;8(6):838. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8060838. Identifying Bug Bites and Stings, and How To Treat Them. While all bites carry bacteria, your body manages to fend off most infections from dog bites. While the kitten grabbing at your hand and biting your fingers may be adorable, it wont be so adorable anymore when he has grown into an adult cat. Dr. Donnelly is a board certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in injuries and ailments of the hand, wrist, and elbow. It was strongly advised that the patient follow up the next day, but Mr. H declined. Rabies is caused by a virus and can be transmitted by bites and scratches from an infected animal, often a dog. Not all cat bites lead to infection, but enough do to warrant caution. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal in New Orleans, where he was awarded the Orthopedic Surgery award. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC. Can taking antioxidants protect you against cancer? Not surprising to most who have owned a cat(s), your author included, cat bites most often end up on the hands and arms. INTRODUCTION. This is the American ICD-10-CM version of S61.451A - other international versions of ICD-10 S61.451A may differ. Brandon P. Donnelly, MD When To Worry The wrist or any joint in the fingers are usually the worst places to be wounded - and that's just where most people get bitten by cats. Twenty cases of cat bites to the hand and wrist were retrospectively reviewed between 2014 and 2018. 0. Cats teeth are sharp and pointy. During a bite, a cat's tooth might also transfer pathogens commonly found on human skin ( Staphylococcus and Streptococcus) into underlying tissues, creating a "cocktail" of bacterial contamination. The most common symptoms of infection from a cat bite include: More serious symptoms of a cat bite infection include: You should also seek medical treatment as soon as possible if you start to experience these more serious symptoms. Dog and cat bites to the hand: treatment and cost assessment. Small but deep punctures there led to a higher risk of hospitalization than bites into soft tissue, according to the study. SEE MORE: Symptoms of Infected Cat Bite and Steps To Take For A Cat Bite. No fever, chills, shortness of breath, cough, wheeze, chest pain, or palpitations were reported. This then causes the wound to potentially close up around the bacteria, which can lead to an infection. Dog and cat bites. - dog bite: - consider viridans strep, pasteurella multocida, bacteroides, fusobacterium, capnocytophaga; - prophylactic treatment: augmentin / amoxicillin or with allergy ( cipro + clindamycin) Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Study shows 1 in 3 people who sought medical treatment for a cat bite on the hand were hospitalized, Most common cat bite victims are middle-age women. Wound cultures were significant for Pasteurella multocida. Puncture wounds tend to heal quickly, but a very deep bite can leave a scar. The type of animal involved will determine the specific injury that occurs; cats have a weaker bite but sharper teeth, therefore cause deep puncture wounds, whilst dogs have a strong bite . We recommend that any symptomatic cat bites to the upper limb, especially hand and wrist, must be treated promptly, essentially within 48 hours of injury, particularly in immunocompromised population. Mr. H noted a progression of redness and swelling over the past three days, and admitted inconsistent use of the sling. Your sharp, long teeth can leave deep punctate injuries. Never try to separate cats who are fighting. Misunderstanding this risk has led to a worrying number of hospitalizations, as patients require surgery to clean wounds or remove tissue thats become infected. We recommend that any symptomatic cat bites to the upper limb, especially hand and wrist, must be treated promptly, essentially within 48 hours of injury, particularly in immunocompromised population. A recent Mayo Clinic study shows that one out of three people who sought treatment for a cat bite to the hand were hospitalized. According to Poison Control, CSD is usually not serious, but people with weakened immune systems are at risk of developing a more serious infection. Published by: Ingrid King. Infected Cat Bite On The Wrist Photograph by Dr P. Marazzi/science from fineartamerica.com. Tendons and ligaments in the hand are especially delicate. 2006 Nov-Dec;106(6):692-5. doi: 10.1080/00015458.2006.11679983. With these locations, it's not hard for a cat to puncture a joint or the layer of membrane that covers a tendon. Mr. H was diagnosed with a septic joint, scheduled for incision and drainage, and admitted to the hospital overnight for observation. Go to doctor or ER: Cat bites to the hand and wrist have a high incidence of infection. Immediately wash the wound under running water. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. Of these, 78% (n = 7) underwent multiple operations secondary to septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, necrotising fasciitis and deep collection. Cat bites to the hand can be especially dangerous since tendon sheaths and joints are close to the surface in the hand and cat bites penetrate deeply. You may need to begin rabies treatment if the cat thats bitten you shows any rabies symptoms. Mr. Hs medical history included hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and tobacco abuse. Polymer-Based Constructs for Flexor Tendon Repair: A Review. 1. Thirty percent (n = 57) of patients with cat bites to the hand were hospitalized. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help QUESTIONS. Additionally, cats mouths carry a large number of bacteria which can cause serious infections in bite wounds. About half the patients visited an emergency room, while the rest went to their primary-care physician. Univariate and multivariate statistical regression were used to analyze the data. Discomfort. Clinical Guidelines in Family Practice. Therefore, its important to get an infection from a cat bite treated. Cat bites to the hand are so dangerous, 1 in 3 patients with such wounds had to be hospitalized, a Mayo Clinic study covering three years showed. A doctor or nurse will wash the wound thoroughly, trim away any dead tissue, and apply antibiotic ointment. Cat bites carry other risks besides infections. for two weeks. Cat bites are more frequent in the mornings, in the summer, and in spring [4]. The pain almost drove me up the wall.". Bats are one of the most common carriers of rabies. Dont try to capture the cat yourself. The fear is that bacteria from the person's skin or from the cat's or dog's mouth gains access to a part of the body that is like a freeway for the bacteria to spread quickly the tendons. If a cat hasnt been vaccinated for rabies, contact a doctor to decide if you need treatment known as rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). Cat scratch disease (CSD) (also known as cat scratch fever) is an infection caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae. Acute carpal tunnel syndrome of the hand following a cat bite. Accessibility First, be sure to clean the wound. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003778. A cat bite is quite common and should always be treated by a doctor. You may need to be on antibiotics so get medical care. Cats, meanwhile, have sharp teeth and that dramatically increases the risk for a cat bite infection. Dry the bite first, to help the Band Aid stick. In the Mayo Clinic study, eight of the 193 patients surveyed required more than one operation, and some had to have reconstructive surgery. Any time the skin is punctured, you will experience some level of discomfort, but this initial pain should subside. Mr. H. was then sent for immediate orthopedic surgical evaluation. The skin was warm and dry to touch. Diabetic fingers with established peripheral neuropathy were more likely to undergo amputation. Of course, if the cat's fangs go in very deep, this could be worrisome and worth a doctor's visit! Learn more about the Merck Manuals and our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. At the initial visit, Mr. H was alert and oriented. If you cant capture the cat, you might need to start rabies vaccination as a precaution. Bothun said she waited one week after her black cat, Mr. Binks, bit. Weber DJ, Wolfson JS, Swartz MN, Hooper DC. If the patient is allergic to penicillin, recommend doxycyline 100 mg b.i.d. An official website of the United States government. Though house cats are often vaccinated against the most serious diseases, like rabies, stray cats arent usually vaccinated and can carry several diseases. But if an unvaccinated cat has bitten you, you must take the bite seriously. A small puncture wound, particularly from a human or cat bite, may involve significant injury to the tendon, joint capsule, or articular cartilage. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. "Cat bites look very benign, but -- as we know and as the study shows -- they are not," Carlsen said. Mr. H was advised to stop taking Vicodin and started on oxycodone (Percocet) 5/325 mg one or two orally every six hours as needed. 20 The trial was terminated because of high rates of infection with wound care alone (47%). Determine the severity of the bite. The infection resides in synovial or periarticular tissues and is usually bacterialin younger adults read more and osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis is inflammation and destruction of bone caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi.
Jimtown High School Staff Directory,
Arthur Blank Politics,
New Construction Homes In Kissimmee Fl Under $300k,
Articles C
