Approximately two million animal bites are estimated to occur annually in the United States. Of these, there are about three hundred thousand visits each year to emergency departments for animal bites mostly acquired from dogs or cats. It is estimated that dog bites account for sixty to ninety percent of bites followed by the bites of cats, rodents and a variety of other species including monkeys, raccoons, foxes, bats, minks and other wild animals. Human bites also occur frequently, and these types of bites are often more dangerous than other animal bites. These numbers are probably low since many bites from pets or human injuries may not be reported to the authorities. As a result of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, misplaced dogs and cats were a serious source of animal bites to rescue workers.
Who is likely to sustain an animal bite
Adolescents are common recipients of animal bites since teens often have contact with pets. Also, adolescents are active in outdoor activities where they may have contact with wild animals including reptiles, and teens also could be involved in violence with others. And this could lead to a human bite injury.
Animal bites can result from attacks or playful encounters with domestic or wild animals. During outdoor activities, while camping, engaging in sports or walking, a teen could sustain an animal bite. And teens can acquire a human bite during violence or intimate contact.
What are the symptoms of an animal bite
The jaws of dogs can produce a pressure so high that some dog bites perforate sheet metal. However, dog teeth are not sharp, so the bite is usually superficial and crushing. As a result, the bites are generally not deep, but bruising, bleeding and cuts of the tissue may result.
The majority of dog bites in adolescents will occur on the lower extremities. Bites from police dogs may be more serious since they are trained to hold onto the individual until given the command to release.
Cats have long, slender and pointed teeth, so their bites can produce a deep puncture wound. Sometimes the bite will penetrate deep tissues including tendons or bones. The chance of infection from a cat bite is higher than a dog bite since it is more difficult to clean a deep puncture wound compared to a superficial crushing wound and cats commonly have a bacteria called Pasturella multocida in their saliva.
Rodents including rats and squirrels can cause a small puncture wound bite. A number of diseases may be transmitted including rat-bite fever and tularemia.
The bites from skunks, raccoons, foxes and bats are most concerning because these animals represent important reservoirs for rabies. The rabies virus can be spread from infected animals to humans through a bite or scratch. Vampire bats suck blood to live, and they are only active at night.
In 1992 there were 4,675 reports of poisonous and non-poisonous snake bites in the United States with one resulting in the death of the individual. Most snake bites occur during the warmer seasons, usually on the hands and feet and adolescent and young adult males are at highest risk for these bites. While there are many non-poisonous snake species in the United States, poisonous cottonmouths, copperheads and rattlesnakes do account for a significant number of snakebites. These bites typically are puncture wounds.
Other reptiles can produce dangerous bites for adolescents. The Gila monster, a lizard endemic to the southwestern United States is poisonous and can produce a serious wound.
How is an animal bite evaluated
The species of the animal is most important in the initial evaluation of an animal bite. The extent of the wound should be assessed, and the circumstances under which the bite occurred should be reviewed. In the case of a human bite, the medical history of the individual delivering the bite is important information.
How is an animal bite treated
The treatment for animal bites will depend on the species producing the bite as well as the extent of the wound. In all cases, a teen should consider contacting medical care. A bite from a mammal, which includes bats, should be regarded as possibly rabid. The clinician providing medical care can go through the steps to determine if the rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin should be administered.
All bites need to be evaluated and cleaned thoroughly. The first aid for the bite wound includes cleaning it with soap and warm water and using measures to control bleeding. The physician can determine if the wound needs to be irrigated with sterile fluids, stitched or surgically repaired. If the adolescent did not seek medical care initially, then he or she should call their physician if pain, swelling, drainage or redness in the area of the bite occurs.
Aside from determining the risk of rabies from the mammalian bite, the clinician needs to assess the teen’s tetanus immunization status. For human bites, one may also consider the risk of acquiring hepatitis B or the human immunodeficiency virus. If there is a risk for the individual, then specific measures including hepatitis B prophylaxis and antiretroviral medications may be considered.
Beside the cosmetic consequences of certain bite injuries, infection may also occur. Bites that potentially have the highest risk for infection to adolescents occur from cats and humans. Humans have dirty mouths, and their bites are usually of the puncture type. Bite wounds on the hand, below the knee or over a joint are very risky for infection since these areas do not resist infection well. And bites that are puncture wounds, or have significant crush injury and are contaminated are also at risk for infection. Delay in seeking care for the bite is associated with a higher chance for infection. For example dog bites have a much higher rate of infection if the patient delays treatment for twenty-four or more hours. In that case the chance of infection may be as high as forty-four percent. Some physicians will prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection especially for bites from cats and for certain dog bites.
The treatment for reptilian bites depends on the species and if there is a potential for a poisonous bite. Beside local care for the bite wound, there are medications and therapies available to counteract the toxin from the biting reptile.
How are animal bites prevented
One should be aware of the possibility for animal bites. Dogs that are baring their teeth, snarling and barking are communicating potential attack behavior. During walking or jogging adolescents should consider carrying a high frequency repellant. They can wear protective clothing during outdoor activities such as hiking boots or shoes that cover the ankles. Teens could avoid areas where snakes live including rocky ledges, wood or rock piles. Adolescent should not reach into dark areas where it is difficult to see.
Adolescents should also know that they could acquire a human bite by hitting someone’s teeth with their bare hand. And teens should also know that when they are intimate with another adolescent, then if one bites his or her partner, do not break the skin.
Related topics:
Exercise, hepatitis, immunizations, kissing, safer sex, violence and aggression
