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Animal bites

Do you know how to deal with animal bites? Dr Chris Brown gives her advice

What are they?
While animal bites can occur from any furry creature in nature, most bites actually come from an animal the child knows. The type of injury the bite causes depends upon the animal and the area of the body bitten. Rabies is common in some countries so if your child is bitten outside the UK you should consult a doctor to check if protection against rabies is needed. Try to teach your child to respect all animals and to treat them with kindness and to be careful around them.

What are the symptoms?
Pain and bleeding are obvious symptoms that arise from animal bites. However, because of the powerful jaws and sharp, thin teeth of some animals, the extent of damage can sometimes be much worse than the puncture and bleeding of the skin.

What can/should be done at home

• Apply pressure to the bleeding for about five minutes or until it stops.
• Gently wash the bite wound with soap and water.
• If possible, safely capture the animal.
• The animal should not be killed. If there is any risk at all that the animal may be carrying rabies, it will need to be observed and examined at a later date (usually ten days after the bite).

When to get immediate attention

• All bites, regardless of how minor, ought to be reported to your doctor. This way your child's records can be reviewed to make sure his tetanus immunisation is up-to-date and a decision can be made whether the possibility of rabies should be considered.
• In some situations, preventative treatment with antibiotics is recommended.
• High risk areas for infection, e.g bites on the hand, foot or face
• People who are at risk of serious wound infection complications, e.g. diabetics.
• Puncture wounds, e.g. cat bites. Dog bites typically cause a crushing wound because of their rounded teeth and strong jaws, but cats have sharp pointed teeth that cause a puncture wound and may introduce bacteria into the deep tissues.
• If there is excessive redness or red streaking that develops as the bite is healing, call your doctor.
• If pus comes from the wound, seek medical attention.

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