Human cat bites

Most people, when they see a fluffy and cute animal, immediately reach out to pet it or scratch behind the ear. Few people think that such a charming creature can be aggressive. But cats are predators by nature, and their claws and teeth are quite dangerous: even a small cat bite can cause many health problems.

There are many known cases when even affectionate domestic animals bite their owners just for fun or for other reasons. Often the bite sites heal very slowly and painfully, because sharp teeth can penetrate deep into the tissue, and superficial treatment of the wound does not allow adequate disinfection of the damage. As a result - protracted inflammatory processes, suppuration, etc.

What do you need to know about cat bites and what should you be prepared for when interacting with animals?

Why is a cat bite dangerous?

Indeed, most animal lovers underestimate their danger. As for cats, their bites can be much more serious than other skin injuries.

Cat teeth are particularly sharp: the pet needs this to tear coarse meat fibers, to ensure a normal digestive process. As a result, skin damage during a cat bite is externally insignificant, but quite deep (penetrating).

And that's not all the danger: there are many pathogenic microorganisms on the cat's mucous membranes, on tooth enamel and in the saliva. During a bite, these microbes get into deep tissues, and an active development of anaerobic infection occurs, often with severe complications.

Microbes dangerous to humans are found in nine out of ten cats. The most frequently isolated bacterium is the one that causes pasteurellosis, an infectious disease complicated by general blood poisoning. Pasteurella, as this bacterium is called, can “cooperate” with streptococci and staphylococci, which further aggravates the unpleasant situation.

When a cat bites, not only soft tissues are damaged, but also tendons, nerves, joints, and blood vessels. When they enter the general bloodstream, pathogenic microbes spread and settle in other organs, and even in the heart valves.

Cats with rabies and tetanus carriers pose a particular danger. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to recognize such animals.

Doctors warn: if you are bitten by a cat, you should immediately visit the emergency room, where they will not only provide first aid, but also prevent possible complications.

Risk factors

Among the factors that allow us to classify a victim as being at high risk of developing an infection at the site of a cat bite, the following are usually distinguished:

• deep penetration of cat teeth into tissue;
• low immunity of the victim, chronic alcoholism;
• the presence of preliminary swelling in the bitten limb;
• bite from dirty fingers or hands;
• diabetes mellitus, immunodeficiency states;
• bite on the face, neck or foot;
• vascular diseases;
• delayed seeking medical care.

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Pathogenesis

In most cases of infected cat bites, laboratory tests reveal anaerobic and aerobic bacteria on the skin of the victim and on the teeth of the pet that bit.

The most frequently identified microorganisms are:

• Pasteurella multocida;
• streptococci;
• staphylococci;
• Neucheria;
• corynebacteria;
• Fusobacteria;
• bacteroides;
• moraxellas, etc.

Pasteurella multocida is detected in 50% of cases. This bacterium is sensitive to penicillin antibiotics, as well as to the combination of Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid, to Doxycycline and representatives of the fluoroquinolone group (for example, Ciprofloxacin).

Mixed bacterial flora is often present, but the first drugs of choice are usually penicillin group drugs.

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Symptoms cat bite

Severe infection after a cat bite occurs in approximately every fifth victim. The infection develops differently, depending on the dominant pathogen. Systemic damage with bacteremia and other serious consequences is possible.

A deep cat bite can provoke the development of deep abscesses that extend along the fascial layers.

The first signs of infection may appear as early as the second day: this includes severe swelling and redness in the area around the cat bite, discharge of bloody fluid or pus from the wounds, increased body temperature, and enlargement of nearby lymph nodes.

A bite from a domestic cat, if it is not deep, can heal on its own without causing any unpleasant symptoms. But even here there is no guarantee that an infection will not develop: the cat does not brush its teeth, eats raw food, so there are quite a lot of bacteria in its oral cavity. You should definitely see a doctor if you notice the following symptoms:

• increase in temperature above 37°C;
• the appearance of swelling at the bite site;
• bleeding from wounds, release of other pathological fluids;
• impaired joint movement;
• change in general well-being (nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, etc.).

You should visit a doctor as soon as possible if the health of the bitten pet (even a domestic one) is in doubt.

A bite from a rabid street cat is a particularly dangerous circumstance that can even lead to the death of the victim. Therefore, in the event of an attack by any yard or simply unfamiliar animal, a visit to the doctor should be urgent: every minute counts here.

The incubation period for rabies can be quite long, and a person may not even suspect that he has the deadly virus for a long time. The disease itself has three symptomatic stages that you need to know about:

• Premonitory stage:
  • redness of scars at the site of a cat bite;
  • the formation of swelling, the appearance of itching or burning;
  • the emergence of phobias, anxiety, apathy;
  • headaches, depressed mood, development of depressive states;
  • sleep disturbances, unpleasant dreams, insomnia;
  • slight increase in temperature.
• Hyperarousal stage:
  • the appearance of attacks of increased agitation, aggression, rage;
  • fear of water, sounds, light stimuli;
  • increasing attacks of anxiety, convulsions, laryngeal spasms, and breathing problems;
  • development of mental disorders;

The appearance of profuse, painful salivation (hypersecretion leads to dehydration, metabolic disorders, and weight loss).

• Stage of paralysis:
  • mental quiescence;
  • cessation of paroxysmal hyper-excitation up to complete immobilization;
  • continuation of hypersecretion of the salivary glands;
  • paralysis of the heart and respiratory system, death.

If a patient is bitten by a rabid cat and has not been vaccinated against rabies, he is doomed: the disease is incurable and ends in death.

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What can you get infected from a cat bite?

Why is a cat bite so dangerous? Let's try to highlight just a few of the main diseases that can be transmitted to humans from an apparently harmless animal:

• Rabies from a cat bite develops when the saliva of a sick animal gets into the tissue. Pathological damage affects the central nervous system, the motor apparatus, and the human brain. It is not always possible to recognize a rabid cat, but only at the stage of active clinical manifestations: mouth breathing, inappropriate behavior, increased salivation, hoarseness.
• Tetanus after a cat bite is accompanied by fever, headache, swelling of the bitten area, inflammation of the lymph nodes, and the development of convulsions. Such symptoms develop in unvaccinated people, but the disease can be stopped at an early stage if you contact a doctor in time.
• Pasteurellosis after a cat bite causes problems with the respiratory system, joints, and brain in the victim. Often the disease occurs in the form of skin lesions: abscesses form, limbs swell. Sepsis may develop.
• Streptococcosis is accompanied by fever, sore throat, plaque formation on the mucous membrane of the pharynx, pain in the bones and ears, and skin rashes.
• Lyme disease can be transmitted to humans from a cat that was previously bitten by a carrier of this infectious disease – a blood-sucking parasite (usually a tick). The disease usually manifests itself as redness of the bite site, skin rash, headache, muscle and joint pain, chills, and a feeling of aches in the body. With timely treatment and competent detection of the disease, the patient can be cured. However, in advanced cases, the pathology can end in paralysis of the peripheral nerves, heart rhythm disturbances, and mental disorders.

After a cat bite, you need to carefully monitor your condition: even with a minimal threat of developing an infectious process, you should immediately seek medical help.

Complications and consequences

In many cases, a cat bite poses a serious danger to human health. Most often, pets "target" the upper limbs - as a result, areas with close joints and tendons to the surface of the skin suffer. Penetration of bacteria into the tissue significantly complicates the healing process and causes the development of an inflammatory reaction. Moreover, the victim may lose the ability to work, since pain and infectious inflammation after a cat bite do not allow free use of the injured limb.

The most unfavorable is the development of chronic infectious pathology, which can even lead to the destruction of joints, cartilage, and bone.

Wounds from cat bites can be complicated by diseases such as osteomyelitis, endocarditis, meningitis, or even sepsis - a general bacterial infection of the body.

Fortunately, complications do not always develop. However, how long a cat bite heals largely depends on the literacy of the initial treatment of wounds. In some cases, patients promptly wash the bitten area and even consult a doctor, but later the infectious process still develops - infection from a cat bite can occur due to the microbe Pasteurella multocida, which lives in the cat's mouth. The incubation period of such an infection can be from four hours to one day. And this time is enough for the bacteria to spread beyond the bitten area.

If the problem has made itself known, and after a while the cat bite has become infected, then powerful antibiotic therapy is mandatory. If this is not done, then there is a threat not only to the patient's health, but also to his life. Therefore, most victims are recommended to start taking antibiotics even before the first signs of an infectious disease appear - so to speak, for preventive purposes.

When the victim notes that his cat bite is swollen, this already means that a local metabolic disorder is beginning in this area and an inflammatory process is triggered. In such a situation, you should act immediately: contact a doctor, clean and treat the wound, and begin antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment.

The same should be done if a cat bite simply hurts: damage to soft tissues, tendons, periosteum is always accompanied by pain. Finding out the cause of this pain, preventing the development of inflammation - all this can and should be done by a doctor after the patient seeks medical help. If inflammation has already begun, the pain may no longer be aching, but twitching, pulsating. Such symptoms are very serious, they cannot be ignored.

With the onset of an inflammatory reaction, the temperature after a cat bite can remain within the range of 37-37.5°C. With extensive pathological processes and septic complications, the indicators can reach 39°C and more. Unfortunately, the fact of a bite itself is often not taken as seriously as it should be. Therefore, patients tend to consult a doctor not immediately after the incident, but only with the onset of acute signs of the disease.

It is important to understand that even a small lump after a cat bite can be a slow painful reaction, and eventually turn out to be an abscess or another pathological formation. So isn't it better to consult a doctor and protect yourself from negative consequences?

If there are no symptoms of inflammation, but there is numbness at the site of the cat bite, this may indicate damage to the nerve fibers, which also requires medication in combination with physiotherapy. Remember: in order not to aggravate the situation, you must pay close attention to any symptoms (even if they are insignificant at first glance) and visit a doctor in a timely manner.

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Diagnostics cat bite

Diagnosis is made based on a combination of clinical and laboratory data.

First of all, it is important to interview the victim and examine the area of the cat bite. The doctor must pay attention to the following circumstances:

• under what conditions did the cat attack the person;
• what time of day did it happen;
• is the attacking animal familiar;
• was the attack provoked;
• what happened to the animal next, where it is now;
• is the patient prone to allergic reactions;
• what kind of first aid the victim received, what medications he is currently taking;
• Are there any current illnesses;
• whether the patient is vaccinated against tetanus and rabies.

After a thorough examination, the doctor examines the wound, treats it if necessary, and writes out a referral for tests.

Laboratory tests may be virological, biological, serological. General blood and urine tests are performed as standard. The following methods may be used for specific diagnostics:

• radioimmunoassay method;
• enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA);
• enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA);
• identification of the pathogen using monoclonal antibodies;
• PCR.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis requires the exclusion of botulism, listeriosis, pasteurellosis, streptococcosis, staphylococcosis, tetanus and rabies.

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Treatment cat bite

Immediately after the cat has bitten, you need to wash the damaged area thoroughly with soap and water (it is best to use regular brown laundry soap). Next, you should treat the skin with any antiseptic - Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide and even regular vodka will do. It is not recommended to use ointments or put a band-aid on the wound, as this will block oxygen from reaching the tissues. If the bite is large, a gauze bandage can be applied.

These are all the activities you can do at home. After that, you should contact specialists - for example, the doctor on duty at the emergency room. Since bacterial processes can develop rapidly, you should seek medical help as soon as possible.

What to do if you are bitten by a cat, read this article.

Prevention

Preventive measures are very important to avoid cat bites or other animal bites. Be sure to listen to the recommendations given by specialists. This will help to avoid many health problems in the future.

• Don't touch cats walking outside: you can't predict their reaction, even if the animal looks more than affectionate.
• Not all pets respond adequately to petting and scratching. If possible, it is better to ask the cat owner about possible aggression on the part of the animal.
• If you have acquired a small kitten, try to wean it from even lightly biting your hands and fingers from the very beginning. With age, such "pranks" can develop into painful bites.
• If your domestic cat likes to bite, buy her special dental trainers - these are special toys that are sold in any pet store. This method often satisfies the pet's "gnawing" need, and your hands will remain unharmed.
• Veterinarians advise to have pets examined regularly in a relevant clinic to rule out possible health problems. It is known that a cat that is bothered by something becomes more irritable and can bite even a loving owner.
• Never force your pet to do something that it does not accept and does not like. For example, many cats do not like being picked up, having their tail touched, having their belly stroked or their fur stroked.
• Children need to be taught from an early age how to behave with living creatures. It is necessary to make them understand that the pet also feels pain, that you cannot pull its whiskers or tail, pull out its fur, etc.
• You should be especially careful with a cat that has kittens: in this situation, instinct may simply kick in, followed by a bite.

If the fact of a bite already exists, then you should act immediately to prevent the development of serious complications. If the vaccination against a cat bite is done late, then its effectiveness drops to almost zero.

Vaccination prevention is the notorious "forty injections into the stomach": such measures have not been used in medicine for a long time. As a rule, the victim is given an anti-rabies serum, the wound is treated and sent home. After some time, the vaccine will have to be administered again: the doctor will give recommendations regarding the further vaccination schedule. In most cases, prevention is limited to five injections. The patient is also warned that from the moment the serum is administered, it is forbidden to drink any alcoholic beverages. The exclusion of alcohol is valid throughout the entire period of prevention and for six months after the last administration of the drug.

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Forecast

The prognosis for a cat bite can be favorable if the victim takes immediate action and seeks medical help. For example, even if the pet was infected with rabies, a deadly infection, then an emergency visit to the doctor will allow the patient to survive. If a person was careless about the bite and emergency help was not provided, then all cases of rabies end in death.

Another possible complication – tetanus – can also end fatally, but only in 10% of cases. This disease has a short incubation period, so deterioration can occur within the first few days. To avoid unpleasant consequences, you need to visit a doctor as soon as possible.

The worst prognosis for a cat bite is for infants and the elderly.

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