Animal and Human Bites

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If you suffer a bite that breaks the skin prompt medical care is essential. This applies whether the bite is from a wild or stray animal, the family pet, or even an energy toddler. Animal's mouths are heavily populated with bacteria and other microorganisms that thrive on food residue and debris. These organisms can be transmitted by bites and produce infection, especially if there is extensive tissue damage.

For reasons that are not clear, cat bites are more likely to cause infection than dog bites. Estimate vary, but up to 50 percent of cat bites may become infected, whereas dog bites cause infection, especially if there is extensive tissue damage.

For reasons that are not clear, cat bites are more likely to cause infection than dog bites. Estimates vary, but up to 50 percent of cat bites may become infected, whereas dog bites cause infection only 5 percent of the time. The potential for infection from a human-inflicted bite falls some-where between the two. Bites from children tend to cause because adults can cause deeper injuries that allow more serious infections to establish themselves.

Most bite-related infections are treatable. However certain dangerous viruses, including hepatitis and herpes viruses as well as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are present in the salvia of infected individuals, and could conceivably be transmitted by a bite that breaks the skin. It is worth nothing, however, that there have been no documented cases of HIV being transmitted this way.

Preventive measures for animal and human bites

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