Self Care

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Bites

 

Human Bites

This can happen more often, and are usually done by children while playing or fighting. Another frequent source of human bites is the result of a person punching someone in the mouth and then discovering that the skin over the knuckles has been broken by the intended victim’s teeth.

Infection can result due to the amount and type of bacteria in the human mouth. If a human bite breaks the skin, thoroughly wash the area, then take proper medical care.

Animal Bites More than 2 million dog bites resulting in puncture wounds or cuts are reported each year. Half of the victims are children. Millions of bites and nips from other animals are believed to go unreported.

Animal bites raise four concerns : bleeding, the possibility of viral infections like rabies, potential damage to the underlying tissue and the possibility of bacterial infections like tetanus. The best way to treat an animal bite is in advance, before you are bitten. Avoid wild animals, especially if they let you approach.

Self Care for human bites

Check for bleeding if you have a human bite. If the wound is bleeding, apply direct pressure and try to raise the wound above heart level. Wash it vigorously with mild soap and a wash cloth under running water for at least 5 minutes.

Check to be sure that you have received a tetanus booster within the last 10 years. A booster for tetanus may be recommended sooner if you have a wound at high risk for tetanus. Watch the wound site closely for signs of infection, and call the advice nurse if you have been bitten hard enough to penetrate the skin.

Self Care for animal bites

Wash all animal bites vigorously with soap and under running water for 5 minutes, even if they have not bled. Apply an antiseptic ointment to shallow puncture wounds, and watch for signs of infection. Deep puncture wounds, especially cat bites, can carry a greater risk of infection. If an animal bite penetrates the skin, consult the doctor.

The main carriers of rabies are wild animals most often skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes. Rabid animals act strangely, attack without provocation, and may drool or foam at the mouth. If a pet has bitten you, the animal needs to be confined and watched for 10 days if possible.

Signs and Symptoms that needs to be taken care of :

Bite results in severed body part.

Wild animal bite.

Bite by a strange dog or cat.

Unprovoked animal bite or concern that the animal is ill.

No tetanus booster received within the last 10 years.

Bite that penetrates the skin, especially on face, hand, or foot.

Pain that gets worse rather than better within 3 days.

Any human bite that penetrates the skin.