Bites: Human and Animal

Human bites happen more often than you think. The "biters" usually are children playing or fighting with each other. The bite can become infected because of the amount and type of bacteria in the human mouth.

Animal bites raise concerns for bleeding, crush injuries, scarring, puncture wounds and the possibility of viral or bacterial infections. Animal bites that break the skin often cause infections. A cat bite is more likely to get infected than a dog bite. Animal bites, particularly wild animal bites and bites of dogs or cats not immunized against rabies, should be reported to Animal Control.

First Aid

• If you have a human bite that is bleeding, apply pressure directly to the bitten area and try to raise the wound above heart level. Using a washcloth and mild soap, wash the bitten area vigorously under running water for at least five minutes.

• Watch the wound site closely for signs of increased redness, swelling or pain.

• Wash all animal bites vigorously with soap for 15 minutes and then rinse under running water for 10 minutes, even if the bite has not bled. Apply an antibacterial ointment such as bacitracin to shallow puncture wounds, and watch for signs of infection. Deep puncture wounds and cat bites (shallow or deep) should be treated immediately by a doctor.

• If a pet has bitten you, take it to the veterinarian.

• The main carriers of rabies are wild animals, especially skunks, raccoons, bats, foxes and coyotes. If a wild animal has bitten you, avoid contact with it. Report the injury to local police, so that they can locate the animal for observation and confine it if necessary. For more information on wild animal bites, call your local health department about the rabies risk in the type of animal and the risk for rabies in your area. If needed, ask your health care provider whether you need a vaccination for rabies.

• With any kind of bite, check to be sure your tetanus booster is up to date.

When You Need a Tetanus Booster

• Your last tetanus shot/booster was 10 or more years ago.

• Wound, cut or scrape is exceptionally dirty, and your last tetanus shot was more than five years ago.

• Wound, cut or scrape is clean and minor, but your last tetanus shot was more than 10 years ago.

• You never had the initial tetanus vaccination.

HIV Transmission and Bites

The possibility of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) being spread through the bite of an HIV-infected person is considered extremely unlikely. To date, there have been no documented examples of HIV transmission through biting.