This infection should be treated within the first 48 hours after the cat bite. Signs of Infection. Cat-scratch disease presents with a mild infection at the wound site 3–14 days after the injury, followed by lymphadenopathy and symptoms including fever, malaise, headache, and poor appetite. Common symptoms include pain and swelling around the affected area. In these cases, surgical consultation is needed to assess severity. A cat bite wound can turn into a serious infection within 12 hours after the biting and over 40% of wounds get infected. Yet most animal bites are avoidable: Understanding how to interact with animals, and staying aware of any signals of aggression or fear, are both critically important. Rochester, Minn. — Feb. 5, 2014 — Dogs aren’t the only pets who sometimes bite the hands that feed them. Infection has a better success rate of starting near joints and tissue. Cat scratches and bites can cause cat scratch disease, a bacterial infection carried in cat saliva. Pasteurellosis Infection. Middle-aged women were most common cat bite victims. Human Bites. The symptoms of an infected cat bite are swelling, redness, puss in the area and a fever. Overall, dogs bite more often than cats. An animal bite is not typically life-threatening, but if the infection from a bite spreads, it can cause serious medical problems. Cat-scratch disease is caused by Bartonella henselae and may follow a bite or scratch from a cat or dog. Cat scratch disease (CSD) is a syndrome that begins usually with red, tender papules or pustules at a site where a pet cat (usually a kitten) has scratched, licked, or superficially bitten a person. Infection after a human bite is often polymicrobial. Some of the complications include: Parinaud's oculoglandular syndrome - occurs when the germ gets into the eye and spreads to the gland (lymph node) in front of the ear. Cat bite: risks. Or it may spread away from the original bite, to affect more areas of skin , or tissue nearby such as bone (osteomyelitis) or through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Cat bites and human bites also usually only cause minor injuries, although they do carry a higher risk of infection. Cat bites are usually considered minor injuries but can result in serious infection. What are the possible complications of cat scratch disease? One of the first signs of an infected animal bite is swelling at the site, such as the finger. Incidence is higher in the spring and summer. Documenting how and when the bite occurred. Cat-scratch disease (CSD) is a bacterial infection spread by cats. “If you contract pasteurella bacteria after a cat bites or scratches you, initial signs of infection can appear in a few hours,” says Dr. Sayles. Serious animal and human bites can get infected if they're not checked and treated quickly. Complications that arise from animal bites are uncommon, but if they do occur they can be serious. Always seek medical advice if you have been bitten by an animal or person and the bite has broken the skin. Here are some of the serious conditions that could result from deep puncture wounds caused by a cat bite. More serious complications, such as cellulitis and systemic illness resulting in infection and even sepsis, may result if left untreated by antibiotics for cats . Common organisms include: As children are the most frequently bitten subjects, pediatricians should provide parents with everything they need to know in order to confront the problem. The disease spreads when an infected cat licks a person’s open wound, or bites or scratches a person hard enough to break the surface of the skin. Puncture wounds to the hands are the most common. Treatment for cat bites — how to prevent cat bite infections “Because cat bites carry the risk of infection, they shouldn’t be taken lightly,” Dawn Quinn, a registered nurse, advises. You should be especially careful if the wound is around your wrist area. In the United States, about 400,000 cat bites occur every year with 66,000 requiring a trip to the emergency room. ** If you are bitten by a cat seek medical attention to receive the appropriate vaccinations and treatments to prevent complications. Cat bite wounds are more likely to become infected than dog bite wounds, due to the tendency of cat bites to result in deep puncture wounds. About 90 % of the bites are caused by dogs and cats, and infections are the most common complications. The bacteria are passed from an infected cat to a human after the cat licks an open wound or bites or scratches human skin hard enough to break the surface of the skin. This Pasteurella maltoside bacterial infection is signed by rapid swelling on the bite site within eight to twenty-four hours after the bite. Cat bites have a 30-50% infection rate. Human Bites. Cat bites are puncture wounds that can cause bacterial infections with Pasteurella multocida that can spread within the tissues or into the blood stream. Complications were those that are typically encountered with cat bites (and good reasons to avoid them): abscesses, tendon infection and nerve involvement. Remember that cat bites can have long-term consequences. Bites located on the hands have a greater risk of leading to further complications such as osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. Classification. Complications can occur if the infection gets into the eye or if it spreads to other parts of the body. Like dog and cat bites, human bites can carry a significant risk for infection. Any bite should be cleaned immediately and assessed by a physician as soon as possible, as antibiotics are frequently needed to treat infection. Cat bites have the greatest potential for infection because their sharp teeth burrow deep into the tissue. 2nd most common type of mammalian bite in the US. This recommendation is based on expert opinion in review articles [Chhabra et al, 2015; Rothe et al, 2015; Edens et al, 2016].Cat bites involve deep puncture wounds which can cause severe infections within a short time (median 12 hours), and an unprovoked animal bite increases suspicion of rabies [Edens et al, 2016]. Cat bites occur more commonly in females. Infection is common after dog and cat bites. Cats do too, and when they strike a hand, can inject bacteria deep into joints and tissue, perfect breeding grounds for infection. SEE MORE: Symptoms of Infected Cat Bite and Steps To Take For A Cat Bite. Even though dogs are responsible for 60 to 90 percent of bites from pets, cat bites are twice as likely to become infected since they puncture deep with their sharp teeth, injecting bacteria further into the wound. Dog or cat bites to the hands are the most severe injuries, often requiring surgical intervention and hospitalization.1 Infectious complications occur in ... the rate of infection from cat bites. Local infections such as an abscess or a closed-off pocket of puss are common complications of cat bite wounds. These areas are ideal for bacteria to spread, and the longer you wait, the more difficult it may be to apply antibiotics quickly. About three to 14 days after the skin is broken, a mild infection can occur at the site of the scratch or bite. Infection can be in or around the wound, causing redness or swelling. People and animals have a lot of bacteria in their mouths, which can cause an infection if a bite breaks the skin. Rabies If the animal’s vaccination status is unknown or if the animal is not captured, public health officials should be contacted to discuss risk of rabies in the area and the need for prophylaxis (20) . 5-15% estimated annual incidence. Because a cat bite often causes a deeper wound, it is more likely to result in an infection of deeper tissues. 3rd most frequent type of mammalian bite in the US. Closed-fist injury (when the fist strikes the teeth on another individual) Occlusive bite (when someone bites with sufficient force to break skin) Microbiology. Dog bites Research suggests a cat may get these bacteria from fleas. In both types of bites up to 25% of patients present greater than 48 hours after the injury and many do not present until complications, like infection, are present (4). While dogs cause more bite injuries, cat bites are more likely to become infected. Seven percent (7%) of all patients (not just the hospitalized ones) had loss of joint mobility after resolution of infection. Approximately 50% of cat bites lead to infection in people. However, if left untreated, an infection can cause serious complications including: Cat Bites. Several strategies can reduce the swelling of an infected animal bite to the finger and decrease the potential for complications. Cat scratch fever is an infection that can occur when a cat that is carrying a specific bacteria then bites, licks or scratches someone. Therefore, treatment with antibiotics may be required as a precaution. ; The infection later progresses to painful regional lymph nodes (which may be felt as small bumps under the skin) over one to three weeks. If affected persons treat the cat bite by a doctor, there are usually no complications, and a maximum of a small scar remains on the skin. Infection is the main complication that arises from animal bites and bites from humans. Sometimes, direct tissue damage from the cat bite can impair mobility or cause tenosynovitis or arthritis. Infected bites rarely cause any serious problems, as long as they are promptly treated using antibiotics. Signs and symptoms. ... Cat bite wounds: risk factors for infection. Although cat bite wounds can be small and may not bleed excessively, they are prone to **developing serious infections. But: cat bites are much more likely to become inflamed and often painful. Complications of bite wounds may include the following: Wound infection Sepsis Cosmetic deformity Loss of limb Loss of function. Tetanus; Another disease that is likely to be caused by cat bites is tetanus. But remember, if you are bitten, prompt medical care is required to prevent serious, even long-term complications from a cat bite infection. Infection with P. multocida generally presents as a rapidly spreading cellulitis, usually occurring within 24 h of the bite. 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