Human Dog Bite - Rabid Dog Bite Symptoms, First Aid For Dog Bite

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Human dog bite

Content:

• Threat to humans
• Causes of aggressiveness
• Types of bites
• Symptoms after a dog bite
• Mad dog bite
• First aid for dog bites
• How to treat a dog bite
• Prevention of bites

Threat to humans

There is an opinion that "a dog is a friend of man." This is largely true. Four-legged pets are very intelligent animals, but no one is ever safe from the fact that such a "friend" can bite.

It doesn't matter what breed the dog is, or what size. Its bite is considered very hazardous to health and even poses a threat to human life. It doesn't matter if it is a pet or a vagrant. Even the presence of all the necessary vaccinations does not protect against the consequences that accompany the bite.

Most often, cases are recorded when someone else's dog, living on the street and leading a wild lifestyle, rushes at a person. There are situations when a domestic, seemingly tame pet clings to its owner with a stranglehold. It is impossible to predict the behavior of the dog, therefore, in dealing with these pets, you should always be on the alert.

Causes of aggressiveness

Quite often, large dogs can injure a person while playing. And small breeds with sharp teeth can damage the skin and even bite through it. The games of children with these animals are especially dangerous. A large percentage of dog bite injuries go to adolescents and children under the age of 3 years.

The second factor that provokes the aggressiveness of tetrapods in relation to humans is anger. It can be caused by hunger, poor attitude of the owner and other reasons. Illness can also trigger violent behavior.

Homeless dogs, which have sensed the proximity of individuals of the opposite sex, behave especially viciously. They can gather in whole flocks that run restlessly through the streets and pose a particular danger to people. Avoid the gathering of stray animals and in no case attract their attention.

Types of bites

If it happens that a person has become a victim of a dog attack, the most important thing is to know how to provide first aid and what to expect from such injuries. There are two types of bites that have different degrees of severity:

Superficial bite

The dog only pierces the skin with its teeth and a puncture wound is formed.

Ragged bite

The injuries are more severe, the wounds are ragged and there may be severe blood loss.

Areas of the human body that the dog most often targets are the ankles, hips, palms, forearms. In children, dogs can injure their face and shoulders. Bites to the neck and head are the most dangerous. In these cases, open and depressed fractures of the skull bones and internal bleeding are possible, which can be fatal.

Symptoms after a dog bite

What happens after an animal attack? First of all, the infection begins to develop, especially if the necessary first aid measures have not been taken. Bacteria spread rapidly during the first day, but it is best to start treatment right away, without waiting for complications of the condition. The presence of infection is characterized by the appearance of inflammation, the separation of pus from the wound, the formation of a reddish rash in the area of damage.

When an infection develops as a result of a dog bite, it is observed:

• swollen lymph nodes;
• fever attacks;
• increased body temperature;
• lymphangitis.

Local bacteria can cause complications (bacteremia) if they come into contact with the affected skin area. This is a serious disease that can result in a brain abscess, infective endocarditis, meningitis. Mostly, this happens to victims who have weakened immunity.

If the site of injury was on the bones and joints, then this threatens the development of osteomyelitis and arthritis.

Mad dog bite

If a person has become a victim of a rabid animal, then immediate medical attention is needed, otherwise death is inevitable. The saliva of an infected tetrapod enters the bloodstream and rapidly spreads through the vessels, penetrating into the brain. The defeat of the nervous system is no longer amenable to treatment, that is, death occurs.

Symptoms that appear after being attacked by a mad dog:

• unreasonable fear;
• insomnia;
• irritability;
• a sharp rise in temperature;
• painful sensations.

When the situation worsens:

• hallucinations are the first and main symptom of rabies infection;
• severe headaches;
• profuse sweating;
• muscle spasms;
• paralysis.

If, after being bitten by a rabid animal, you do not immediately go to the hospital, then blood poisoning (sepsis) begins and further treatment will be ineffective, and sometimes even ineffective. Human lives depend on the speed of first aid measures to prevent infection.

First aid for dog bites

1. Immediately after the dog bite, wash the damaged area with warm water and soap. It is advisable to use a household detergent that contains a large percentage of alkali. It is this component that has a destructive effect on viruses and other bacteria trapped in the wound. Soapy water will eliminate animal saliva and dirt.
2. Next, it is necessary to thoroughly process the bitten skin with an antiseptic. For this, iodine, a solution of brilliant greens or potassium permanganate are suitable. In extreme cases, you can use hydrogen peroxide, if nothing else was found at hand.
3. Further, it is recommended to apply Betaine and any ointment that acts as an antibiotic.
4. After treatment, you need to cover the wound with a sterile bandage. Do not bandage tightly, as dangerous bacteria will be separated with the release of blood.
5. Having taken the necessary pre-medical first aid measures, you should immediately go to the doctor, who will assess the condition of the victim and prescribe further treatment.

To provide effective therapy for a dog bite, the doctor will need information about the health of the animal and whether it has the necessary vaccinations. If the attack was from a stray dog, then a thorough laboratory examination will need to be carried out to identify signs of infection with rabies and tetanus.

If a person himself suspected that he was attacked by a mad dog, his first actions should be:

1. Bloodletting. To avoid infection, you need to squeeze the wound tightly to provoke bleeding. You can use a knife or razor to cut the skin and bleed.
2. Disinfection.
3. Bandage application.
4. Seeing a doctor. A specialist should immediately warn about the possible rabies of the animal that caused the injury.

How to treat a dog bite

Therapy should be started no later than 8 hours after the incident. A prerequisite for the treatment of such wounds is the use of antibiotics (amoxicillin, clavulanate). Their action prevents infection of the body and kills bacteria that live in the saliva of animals. If the patient has allergic reactions to drugs of the penicillin group, then they are replaced with metronidazole and doxycycline.

The wound should be covered with a bandage at all times. Analgesic medications can be taken to relieve pain at the bite site. To prevent sepsis, appropriate injections must be given. If the dog has been vaccinated, then it will be enough to inject the victim with an injection from tetanus. If rabies is suspected, then additional measures will be required.

In the case of lacerated wounds, suturing will be required, which, in combination with taking medications, is an important condition for the patient's speedy recovery.

Prevention of bites

• Avoid close contact of children with pets, and even more so with stray pets.
• Keep away from the dog while eating.
• Do not disturb the sleeping animal.
• Do not collect puppies from a nursing dog.
• Do not separate the fighting four-legged.
• Compliance with these measures will help protect yourself and your loved ones from possible dog bites and avoid sad consequences!

The author of the article: Volkov Dmitry Sergeevich | c. m. n. surgeon, phlebologist

Education: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry (1996). In 2003 he received a diploma from the Educational and Scientific Medical Center of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation.