For an infection to set in, bacteria need time to get settled and multiply in your body which is why there is a delay between a bite and any infection symptoms. If the bite or scratch hasn't penetrated the skin, the chance of infection is minimal. Dawn Bothun, of Minnesota said a bite on her hand turned into an eight-week hospital ordeal and $150,000 in medical bills. Diagnosis is made clinically by physical examination and performing various provocative tests depending on the location of the injury. You may need to be on antibiotics so get medical care. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. Of course, if the cat's fangs go in very deep, this could be worrisome and worth a doctor's visit! "They can be very serious. Immediately after the incident, Mr. H. washed his wounds with soap and water, applied antibiotic ointment, and took ibuprofen for pain relief. Nine patients (Group B) presented later than 48 hours. Small but deep punctures there led to a higher risk of hospitalization than bites into soft tissue, according to the study. It was strongly advised that the patient follow up the next day, but Mr. H declined. . The puncture hole can quickly seal over and trap bacteria from the cats mouth under your skin. Thirty percent (n = 57) of patients with cat bites to the hand were hospitalized. But if an unvaccinated cat has bitten you, you must take the bite seriously. Pasteurella multocida is the most common isolated pathogen transmitted from cats.2 The animals long and sharp canine teeth penetrate the skin, causing deep puncture wounds and providing an avenue for the induction of bacteria. Within a couple of hours the area was in severe pain, swollen, and red. 2002 Jan;34(1):22-9. doi: 10.1055/s-2002-22103. When they bite you, they are essentially injecting bacteria deep into your skins tissue. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. The skin was warm and dry to touch. 2017 Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly Can Vitamin E protect against heart disease. 2. "The infection from the cat bite reached my tendon," Bothun said. Cats can also injure their tendons or ligaments slowly over time as a result of repetitive straining, overexertion, or fatigue. doi: 10.7759/cureus.9357. Be sure to stay calm if you are bitten by a cat. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help By joining Cureus, you agree to our Wound cultures were significant for Pasteurella multocida. Cats, meanwhile, have sharp teeth and that dramatically increases the risk for a cat bite infection. Some people need surgery, though. Cat bites are exceptionally dangerous and prone to infection because a cat's needle-like teeth can push bacteria deep into flesh, tendons and joints. According to a 2018 research review, infection occurs in about 50 percent of cat bites in children. government site. Cats bite mostly on hands, arms or legs. Univariate and multivariate statistical regression were used to analyze the data. Erythema and pain localized to the bite suggest infection. While five- to nine-year-old males are the. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorization. Nearly 40% of cat bites may lead to an infection according to one estimate, which supports the extra attention medical professionals often pay to cat bites. If you dont know the rabies status of the animal, try to locate it and call animal control. Mr. Hs medical history included hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and tobacco abuse. Mr. H, age 45 years, presented to the clinic following a cat bite to his right hand 14 hours prior. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. If you have some antibiotic cream such as neosporin, apply it. No drainage, fever, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, or wheeze was reported. An official website of the United States government. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies Eleven patients (Group A) were presented within 48 hours of their injury. 2022 Feb 23;14(5):867. doi: 10.3390/polym14050867. Here's what you need to know. Read More, The Conscious Cat Product Guide features all of the best products for cats and cat lovers. Painful and swollen lymph nodes for more than 2 or 3 weeks. o [ abdominal pain pediatric ] Methods: Dutton LK, Hinchcliff KM, Logli AL, Mallett KE, Suh GA, Rizzo M. JB JS Open Access. One of the more common is a highly pathogenic bacterium, Pasteurella multocida. Dry the bite first, to help the Band Aid stick. At six-weeks postoperative, Mr. H had full range of motion and increased strength in the right hand. "I thought I could manage them on my own but I couldn't move my wrist after a week.". Cat bites are typically puncture wounds that penetrate deeply into the skin and underlying tissues [2] with infection rates of up to 50% [4]. Bites on the hand are also at a high risk of infection. Brought to you by Merck & Co, Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) dedicated to using leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. They respond aggressively when their home is disturbed, biting and injecting venom. Through this website and links to other websites, Brandon P. Donnelly, MD provides general information for educational purposes only. Keywords: Hand or wrist infection; cat bites; delayed treatment; diabetic finger; finger amputation; public awareness. A doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics to fight off the infection. Twenty cases of cat bites to the hand and wrist were retrospectively reviewed between 2014 and 2018. Part 2 Seek Medical Care for Severe Bites 1 Go to the doctor if your bite is too serious for you to care for it adequately. In the case of dogs and cats, thats not always the case. J Hand Surg Am. In todays blog post, Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly discusses why the risk of a cat bite infection has become a growing concern. loss of mobility in your finger or hand. Active range of motion deficits are present at the wrist and thumb due to pain and swelling. The small but deep puncture wounds are. Felines' sharp teeth can inject harmful bacteria deep into joints and tissue, doctors warn. Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders, Amoxil, Dispermox, Moxatag, Moxilin , Sumox, Trimox, Biocef, Daxbia , Keflex, Keftab, Panixine, Cleocin, Cleocin Ovules, Cleocin Pediatric, Cleocin T, CLIN, Clindacin ETZ, Clindacin-P, Clinda-Derm , Clindagel, ClindaMax, ClindaReach, Clindesse, Clindets, Evoclin, PledgaClin, XACIATO, Acticlate, Adoxa, Adoxa Pak, Avidoxy, Doryx, Doxal, Doxy 100, LYMEPAK, Mondoxyne NL, Monodox, Morgidox 1x, Morgidox 2x , Okebo, Oracea, Oraxyl, Periostat, TARGADOX, Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs. 1. fever or chills. Conclusions: Does the amount of Vitamin D you have affect your odds of getting multiple sclerosis? Though house cats are often vaccinated against the most serious diseases, like rabies, stray cats arent usually vaccinated and can carry several diseases. Dog and cat bites to the hand: treatment and cost assessment. A small puncture wound, particularly from a human or cat bite, may involve significant injury to the tendon, joint capsule, or articular cartilage. Mr. H was sent to radiology for an x-ray to rule out fracture, dislocation, and signs of osteomyelitis. If the wound is bleeding, dont stop blood flow; in fact, try to encourage bleeding by gently pressing the area around the wound. Brian Carlsen, a researcher on the study and orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic, said cat's fangs penetrate the skin and push bacteria deep into joints and tissue, causing infection. The wound canal can reach into a joint or onto a bone. INTRODUCTION. Laboratory findings showed erythrocyte sedimentation rate 28 mm/hour, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein 14.5 mg/L, WBC 10,0000/l, RBC 3.77 106/l, hemoglobin 12.3 g/dL, and hematocrit 35.3%. They are most often located on the upper extremities and are almost always accompanied by scratches [2-4]. Cat bites are about twice as likely as dog bites to get infected. Bleeding may help flush out any bacteria that may have gotten into the wound. Dog and cat bites to the hand: treatment and cost assessment. What are are the Differences between Cat and Dog Bites? Acute carpal tunnel syndrome of the hand following a cat bite. The information in this post is not a substitute for medical care. Of those admitted to the hospital, 38 patients needed surgery to clean the wound or remove infected tissue. Eight out of ten cat bites will become infected, experts warn, as moggies inject bacteria into the tissue when they sink their teeth into their victims, causing blood poisoning. Ellis R, et al. Follow-up evaluation should focus on early detection and diagnosis of tenosynovitis, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis. Pasteurella species was isolated from 35% of infected wounds. Infection in these tissues can be very painful and difficult to treat. We cannot answer questions about whether your bite needs medical attention in the comments section. . There are tons of dangerous bacteria flourishing inside a cats mouth. in New Orleans, where he was awarded the Orthopedic Surgery award. Giant Cell Tumor of Tendon Sheath in Guyon's Canal Causing Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome . From furniture, scratching posts, beds and toys to food dishes and litter boxes, youll find everything you need for your feline family members.View the Product Guide. If you cant capture the cat, you might need to start rabies vaccination as a precaution. Does vitamin D play a role in your risk of dying from cancer? After receiving his medical degree fromLouisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, where he was awarded the Orthopedic Surgery award. . Dog bites take about twice as long to set in. However, they can also bite or scratch if spooked or if they get defensive. Before joining Pontchartrain Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, he completed a hand and microsurgery fellowship at the prestigiousPhiladelphia Hand Center. Monitor the area over the following few days for any usual symptoms or pain. Cureus is on a mission to change the long-standing paradigm of medical publishing, where submitting research can be costly, complex and time-consuming. If you suspect youve been bitten by a bat, its important to seek medical attention as soon as, Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Cat bite: an injury not to underestimate. A 29-year-old woman with fever after a cat bite. Tendons and ligaments in the hand are especially delicate. I now fear joint or bone or tendon . WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Some states allow this quarantine to be done in the cats home, others require that it will be carried out in an approved animal control facility. Bites that appear at first to be minor can ultimately end up requiring serious medical attention, with outcomes far worse than an apparently more damaging dog bite. 20 . Wounds are not closed after initial treatment so that any . Use for phrases How do you know if a cat bite is infected? Read all about risks and treatment for a cat bite. Wear thick protective gloves when handling an injured or stray cat. According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, the average patient with a cat bite first noticed their infections about 12 hours after the bite. FOIA If the patient is allergic to penicillin, recommend doxycyline 100 mg b.i.d. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy, Study shows 1 in 3 people who sought medical treatment for a cat bite on the hand were hospitalized, Most common cat bite victims are middle-age women. What is the potential risk associated with cat bites? Victims should be especially concerned about the risk of a cat bite infection if they develop swelling or inflamed skin. For 14 percent of these patients, outpatient treatment with antibiotics didn't work and they needed to be hospitalized. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. Practical Review of the Management of Animal Bites. 8600 Rockville Pike There was minimal pain and bleeding. Patients with joint capsule penetration, tendon injury, or bites older than 24 hours were excluded. Occasionally an infection can cause tendinitis, especially infection from a cat or dog bite to the hand or a finger. Cat bites are about twice as likely as dog bites to get infected. Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly is a native of Slidell, LA. The most common symptoms of infection from a cat bite include: redness or discoloration swelling inflammation warmth a bump or blister where the bite wound is located More serious symptoms of. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.". The type of animal involved will determine the specific injury that occurs; cats have a weaker bite but sharper teeth, therefore cause deep puncture wounds, whilst dogs have a strong bite . We recommend that any symptomatic cat bites to the upper limb, especially hand and wrist, must be treated promptly, essentially within 48 hours of injury, particularly in immunocompromised population. While 3-18 percent of dog bites become infected, another study reported a staggering 28-80 percent cat bite infection rate. Lesions caused by human and domestic and wild animal bites. According to a Mayo Clinic review of records for 193 cat bite victims, 36 were immediately admitted to the hospital, where they stayed an average of three days. Though cats are soft and cuddly, they may bite or scratch when theyre spooked. We avoid using tertiary references. Enter search terms to find related medical topics, multimedia and more. o [teenager OR adolescent ], , MD, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Pediatrics in review. He described severe nonradiating pain to his right hand and second digit unrelieved by Vicodin or Naprosyn. Discharge instructions and wound-care handouts were provided. "Every time they would stitch me up after flushing the wound the infection would just get worse. If a cat hasnt been vaccinated for rabies, contact a doctor to decide if you need treatment known as rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003778. Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats. The most common cause of human bites is a tooth-induced injury to the metacarpophalangeal joint as a result of a punch to the mouth (clenched fist injury). Treatment of hand infections using WALANT -when the anesthesiologist is not available: A retrospective cohort study. Another 154 were treated with oral antibiotics as outpatients, although 21 of them eventually had to be hospitalized. And while cuts. Patients with clenched fist injuries tend to wait hours or days after the wound occurs before seeking medical attention, which increases the severity of the infection. The patients involved in the study were all bitten on the hand. a tendon lesion or a purulent flexor . Almost 40% of cases had flexor tendon sheath infection of the fingers. If there is a lot of blood, apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Of those, 57 were hospitalized; on average, they were in the hospital three days. It can be caused by overuse and repetitive movements like texting, playing video games, or writing. Tenderness along the course of a tendon suggests spread to the tendon sheath. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. Learn more about the Merck Manuals and our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. ANZ J Surg. "The bites lead to serious infections that can require multiple hospitalizations, antibiotics and sometimes surgery," Carlsen said. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Common symptoms are localized bone pain and tenderness with constitutional symptoms (in acute read more . The site is secure. Treatment of infected bite wounds of the hand includes surgical debridement, with the wound left open, and antibiotics. Epidemiology A tetanus shot was administered. red streaks that run up your hand and arm. Therapeutic III. 2020 Jul 23;12(7):e9357. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Bula-Rudas FJ, et al. In the Mayo Clinic study, eight of the 193 patients surveyed required more than one operation, and some had to have reconstructive surgery. There is no such thing as a simple cat bite, yet most patients are unaware of the potential for harm, and they delay or fail to seek immediate evaluation and treatment.