Cat bite: first aid, rabies injection, possible consequences

Cats bite people less often than dogs, but the chances of being harmed by the teeth of both a domestic Murka and a wild hunter are quite high. Cat bites account for approximately 10–20% of all people bitten by animals. Most often, children and adolescents who play with stray animals suffer from bites.

How dangerous is a cat bite for a person and what to do in this case? Do you always need to see a doctor? Let's look at how to properly handle and treat a cat bite, and also find out what diseases these furry pets can transmit through saliva.

Why is a cat bite dangerous?

The main danger is the sharp teeth of cats, which leave damage to the skin in the form of small puncture wounds. Not only the skin can be damaged, but also other nearby tissues - muscles and tendons. When bitten, various pathogenic microflora contained in the animal’s oral cavity can enter the human body. The chance of developing an infection is approximately 80%.

The greatest threat to both adults and children is a street animal. Stray cats have to eat birds, mice and even waste. The saliva of infected animals contains the following microorganisms:

• pasteurella;
• fusobacteria;
• bacteroides;
• staphylococci;
• streptococci, etc.

Pasteurella

Pasteurella is one of the most common pathogenic microorganisms. This is the causative agent of a dangerous disease that quickly spreads throughout the body and affects vital organs.

When bitten and scratched by a pet's claws, lymphoreticulosis can develop - a benign pathology, cat scratch disease. The clinical picture appears after the affected area has healed. Meningitis or fever may develop.

Bites to the face, neck, arm joints or genitals are most dangerous, since these organs have a large number of nerve endings. The infection spreads through them, which can result in a serious complication. Children who like to play with cats or kittens are at risk. Wounds heal slowly, leaving scars on the skin.

Complications and consequences

Ignoring a bite can lead to complications
Delaying or ignoring symptoms, both in a sick cat and in a person, can lead to serious consequences and illnesses, including death.

1. If you are bitten by a stray or someone else's cat, the risk of getting infected increases significantly.
2. The cat had signs of being a carrier of infections: drooling, discharge from the eyes, nose, mouth; movement disorders, convulsions; inappropriate behavior. These circumstances may indicate that a person is infected with serious and dangerous pathogenic bacteria.
3. During the bite, the animal damaged muscle tissue, tendons, or bit into vital parts of the body - neck, face. These injuries can permanently deprive a person of his usual functions, beauty and health.
4. The manifestation of symptoms of infection, the presence of an inflammatory process requires immediate assistance.

You should not be indifferent to the bite of a mustachioed animal. A home first aid kit will not help you cope with many infections, and sometimes you cannot do without the help of a doctor. Even such a cute animal as a domestic cat is fraught with a lot of dangers.

What signs appear when bitten?

When a cat bites, the following symptoms appear:

• redness appears around the wound;
• when bitten on the neck, finger or face, swelling occurs;
• high probability of severe and prolonged bleeding;
• deterioration of health;
• fever, pain at the site of the bite.

The human body's reaction to a cat bite depends not only on the location or depth. The area of ​​the damaged area is also of great importance. You need to know everything about the health of cats, whether the animals have been vaccinated, what microorganisms are present in their saliva. Bacteria that get into the wound can cause the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• edema formation;
• development of a purulent process at the site of the bite.

Enlarged lymph nodes

Symptoms of cat scratch disease:

• chills;
• temperature rise up to +40 °C;
• lack of appetite;
• enlargement of lymph nodes located next to the bite;
• bad feeling;
• Strong headache.

After about 2 weeks, the patient’s condition improves, the affected skin is restored, but a possible complication is a purulent abscess that requires immediate surgical intervention.

Bites from street cats are especially dangerous. In this case, unsafe infections may develop, which are characterized by the following clinical picture:

• the appearance of pus or lumps at the site of injury;
• severe nausea and vomiting;
• a sharp increase in temperature;
• pre-fainting or fainting state;
• the occurrence of cramps in the legs or arms.

It is important to observe the person’s condition for some time after the incident. This is especially true for young children.

How to tell if a cat might bite

The cat warns before the attack

When a pet is tired, angry, irritable or playing aggressively, it always shows before attacking; just watch it and avoid being bitten.

Important: a cat always warns of its intention to bite; you just need to catch its signals.

Signs that your cat may bite now:

• Wags its tail from side to side from the base. Since childhood, people have known that a cat shows dissatisfaction with its tail, and a dog, on the contrary, shows joy and greeting. Therefore, if you find that your cat is wagging its tail dissatisfied and actively, you should not provoke it into aggression, since the next step may be a bite.
• Raised one or both paws up . She hasn't done anything yet, she warns that she is ready to defend herself. And if you ignore this, you can get your well-deserved portion of bites.
• Hisses. Another warning signal, in the form of a defensive reaction. She seems to be saying: “Leave, otherwise I will attack.”
• She arched her back and raised her fur. The cat is about to attack, and then teeth and claws will come in. It is advisable to avoid conflict, get away from the animal, and maybe isolate yourself in another room for a while.
• Ears back and dilated pupils also indicate the animal’s excited state and if provocation or stress continues, there is a possibility that it will show aggression.
• During the game, she grabbed her arm/leg with her paws . Captured prey - bite. A simple rule for mustachioed pets. It is advisable to stop playing or prevent the bite.

All actions of the animal are precautionary in nature, so a bite can always be avoided.

First aid

It is advisable to provide first aid to a person who has been bitten by a cat immediately. This is especially true in cases where the damage was caused by stray animals. Before going to the hospital you must:

1. Wash the wound site thoroughly with water and laundry soap. It is advisable to carry out the procedure within 10–15 minutes so that pathogenic bacteria that have entered the wound are removed.
2. Treat the washed wound with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or vodka.
3. If bleeding occurs, it must be stopped using a pressure bandage. A cat bite in most cases causes capillary bleeding, which helps wash away the cat's saliva.
4. The skin around the wound is treated with alcohol, iodine or a solution of brilliant green.
5. Antibacterial ointment is applied to the damaged area.
6. To prevent infection and contamination, the damaged area is covered with a sterile bandage.

Applying a sterile bandage to the bite site

If a person is bitten by a domestic and vaccinated cat, and the damage is minor, it is enough to treat it with antiseptics and apply a sterile bandage. If, when a finger is injured, it swells or the hand swells, most likely this indicates the development of a complication as a result of the close proximity of joints and bones. The bacteria that get there cause inflammation of the periosteum and joint capsule.

When do you need to go to the hospital?

Scientific research has revealed that cat bites are much more dangerous for humans than dog bites.

After a person has been bitten by a cat, first aid must be provided immediately. Next, you should carefully monitor the victim. It is clear that an injured leg or arm hurts, stings and brings discomfort. But if the condition worsens, the bite area becomes red, swollen, and there is a persistent increase in temperature and general intoxication, you should immediately seek medical help. After examination and a series of laboratory tests, the doctor will prescribe therapy.

When should you see a doctor?

To avoid possible complications such as tissue necrosis or amputation of a limb, you must contact a medical facility. Self-medication is not recommended.

You should also consult a doctor in case of other complications:

• large area of ​​damage;
• numerous bites;
• bleeding that does not stop within 15 minutes;
• bad feeling;
• heat;
• the appearance of seizures;
• the presence of swelling, redness or suppuration at the site of the bite;
• street animal bite;
• bite to the joint, face or neck;
• loss of consciousness.

To prevent further spread of the infection, you must contact a doctor within 12 hours after the incident. In such cases, a local therapist, traumatologist or infectious disease specialist will help.

Prevention: what to do?

To avoid such serious complications, you should follow safety rules when contacting cats. It is generally forbidden to touch or pet homeless animals, because they are potential carriers of infectious diseases. The child should be taught not to pull the tail, paw, or whiskers of even domestic and affectionate cats, because they can get angry, bite or severely scratch the offender. It is important to accustom your pet to affection and kindness from childhood. You need to pay more attention to your pet, and not punish over trifles. If a cat has seriously injured an arm or leg, it is necessary to provide first aid to the victim, and to prevent him from dying from complications, he should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible.

Treatment after a bite

Doxycycline

After the bite, you must start taking antibiotics within 24 hours. The doctor selects appropriate drug therapy:

1. Ceftriaxone.
2. Doxycycline.
3. Amoxiclav.

After 2 days, the site of injury is carefully examined; if there are no symptoms of infection, antibiotics are discontinued. Otherwise, the course of therapy continues until the end. The damaged area is treated with antiseptics several times a day until swelling and inflammation disappear. Anti-inflammatory drugs will help relieve swelling, pain, and speed up healing.

For quick healing, it is recommended to take salt baths. Dissolve 2 tbsp in a glass of hot water. l. salt, and if necessary, the amount of salt is increased. Baths should be used 4-5 times a day. An alternative to salt baths can be alcohol compresses.

Tetanus and rabies are the main complications that can occur after a cat bite. The only salvation for a person in this case is immediate vaccination.

A remedy to relieve the condition before visiting a doctor

When, after a cat bite, the hand is very swollen, and according to all signs it is necessary to seek medical help, but for some reason it has to be postponed, the patient needs to use a special bandage to improve the condition, which will slow down the spread of the inflammatory process. The use of such temporary treatment is possible for no more than 2 days and only as a last resort before visiting a surgeon.

To improve the patient’s condition, it is necessary to apply a bandage to the damaged area, previously washed with laundry soap, heavily soaked in ointment with the antibiotic levomekol and alcohol, or in extreme cases, vodka. During the day, the bandage should be re-moistened with alcohol regularly. It promotes the opening of pores and, as a result, the rapid penetration of the ointment into the tissue. The bandage also reduces heat at the site of swelling. The sore arm must be rested and secured in a sling.

Folk remedies

Ointments and decoctions prepared at home can serve as auxiliary therapeutic methods. Their advantage is not only efficiency, but also accessibility. However, you should not rely only on them, because folk remedies cannot fully get rid of swelling, pain or suppuration.

Among folk remedies that effectively cope with damage after cat bites, the following recipes are popular:

1. Aloe juice. The anti-inflammatory and regenerating effects of lotions will help calm inflammation and speed up the healing process.
2. Chastukha root. Decoctions and powders are prepared from the root of the plant to help relieve inflammation and painful bites.
3. Clove decoction. To prepare the tincture, you need a glass of hot water and 10 buds of spice. The product helps fight inflammation and is taken 1 tbsp. l. in a day.
4. Chamomile. An infusion made from flowers is a natural antiseptic and is used daily to wash wounds.
5. Calendula. To prepare compresses, a ready-made pharmacy tincture is used. Gauze is moistened with the solution and applied to the wound.

— How to recognize the symptoms of rabies?

— Often the disease begins with a picture of a common viral infection, namely:

• General weakness;
• Headache;
• Heat.

The patient may notice redness in the bite area and complain of burning and pain.

These symptoms are gradually accompanied by insomnia, irritability, and fear of air and water. When a person with rabies sees water, the esophagus and respiratory muscles begin to spasm, and a large amount of saliva is released.

In the end, delusions, hallucinations, and paralysis develop. The patient dies within 7-8 days from the onset of the first signs of the disease.

Complications from a cat bite

Cat saliva contains many staphylococci and streptococci, which can cause infections.

The consequences of a cat bite can be the most dire:

• tissue necrosis;
• symptoms of suffocation;
• renal failure.

Such consequences are especially dangerous for people with diabetes or weakened immune systems.

When attacked by stray animals, complications may include:

• encephalitis;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• bone suppuration;
• sepsis (blood poisoning);
• infection with rabies or tetanus.

Antitetanus serum

Rabies is an incurable disease. It can be transmitted even in the absence of obvious symptoms. If the animal does not show signs of rabies, this does not mean that the cat is not contagious. The virus may already be present in saliva. It is advisable to catch the animal and study it in the laboratory. A thorough study of cat diseases and their symptoms is carried out. Injections are given to the victim, and the study will make it clear whether to continue therapy or not.

Tetanus is a disease that poses a threat to human life. The reason is a microbe living in the soil. Anti-tetanus serum is administered immediately after the bite if the person was injured by a stray animal or the previous vaccination has expired (10 years).

Pre-exposure (pre-exposure) immunization

• Indicated for persons at high risk associated with their profession (laboratory workers directly working with the rabies virus, veterinarians).
• Travelers who may be at risk of exposure to the virus.
• Persons living in areas where rabies is endemic and where the availability of anti-rabies biological products is limited.

It should also be remembered that for any injuries that damage the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes, animal bites, burns, frostbite, etc. emergency prophylaxis of tetanus is carried out.

— Does the animal with rabies show any symptoms?

— Yes, a dog with rabies has certain signs that appear 12-20 days after the bite. The animal's behavior changes: it avoids people, howls, is in no mood, often angry, does not eat, does not drink water, can swallow unusual objects (a piece of wood, rags, nails). After 1-2 days he becomes aggressive, a large amount of saliva comes from his mouth, has an unsteady gait, runs away from home and often gets lost, after 2-3 days paralysis begins, and dies on the 7th or 8th day.

10 days before symptoms of the disease appear, saliva is dangerous because it already contains the rabies virus!