8600 Rockville Pike He is currently an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center. Recovery could take four to six months. Here's how. Early treatment is beneficial in decreasing the risk of infection. Deep puncture wounds from animal bites become morbid if not promptly tended and closely followed. The patients involved in the study were all bitten on the hand. Conscious Cat is reader-supported. [Sepsis after cat bite-How medical history, physical examination and interdisciplinary cooperation influence disease progression]. 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. We cannot answer questions about whether your bite needs medical attention in the comments section. 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. An official website of the United States government. Of those, 57 were hospitalized; on average, they were in the hospital three days. Cat bites may look small, but they can turn into serious problems. Mr. H was unsure of the date of his last tetanus shot and reported that the cat is up to date on all immunizations. . Wrist Tendonitis; DeQuervain's Tendonitis; Carpal Boss; Wrist Fractures; Distal Radius Fracture of the Wrist; Scaphoid Fractures of the wrist; Elbow. 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. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in biological sciences from. Pontchartrain Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Sciences Center. 20 The trial was terminated because of high rates of infection with wound care alone (47%). 1. Cat bites carry other risks besides infections. Benson LS, Edwards SL, Schiff AP, Williams CS, Visotsky JL. Dog bites take about twice as long to set in. National Library of Medicine A small puncture wound, particularly from a human or cat bite, may involve significant injury to the tendon, joint capsule, or articular cartilage. While 3-18 percent of dog bites become infected, another study reported a staggering 28-80 percent cat bite infection rate. Cats have thin sharp teeth that dig into skin and drive bacteria deep into the wound. Cat bites can results in mild scarring, the raised area is probably a little scar tissue settling down. Your doctor may also recommend an X-ray to diagnose injuries to joints or bones or to see if there are any fragments from the cats teeth that may have broken off. S61.451A is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. MeSH The infection resides in synovial or periarticular tissues and is usually bacterialin younger adults read more and osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis is inflammation and destruction of bone caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, or fungi. When you think about being bitten by an animal, smaller is better, right? Bothun said she still feels pain in her wrist and does not have full movement. In these cases, the researchers said, the wound should be treated aggressively. If the patient is allergic to penicillin, recommend doxycyline 100 mg b.i.d. for 10 days. Mr. H returned in three days as instructed. We write about feline health, nutrition, lifestyle, and so many other interesting topics! official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Can antioxidants supercharge your brain power? It may be painful or tender when touched or pressed. There was limited range of motion to the second digit on the right hand (partial flexion). While all bites carry bacteria, your body manages to fend off most infections from dog bites. Your sharp, long teeth can leave deep punctate injuries. The puncture hole can quickly seal over and trap bacteria from the cats mouth under your skin. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies Animal bites usually contain multiple potential pathogens, including Pasteurella multocida (particularly in cat bites), staphylococci, streptococci, and anaerobes. Of course, if the cat's fangs go in very deep, this could be worrisome and worth a doctor's visit! The best way to know if youre dealing with bedbugs is to look for evidence of them in your home. A recent Mayo Clinic study shows that one out of three people who sought treatment for a cat bite to the hand were hospitalized. The main symptoms were limited and there was painful mobilisation of fingers and wrist, and swelling and redness in the area of the bite wound. Bookshelf Time from bite to presentation, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein values at presentation were not associated with hospitalization. Preoperative Antibiotics Influence Culture Yield in the Treatment of Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Infections. The pain almost drove me up the wall.". Am Fam Physician. While all bites carry bacteria, your body manages to fend off most infections from dog bites. 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. Acta Chir Belg. eCollection 2021 Nov. Savu AN, Schoenbrunner AR, Politi R, Janis JE. Conclusions: Cat bite injuries to the hand can progress to serious infection. The skin on the second digit of the right hand showed significant edema and erythema circumferentially (Figure 1). 2017 Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly Dr. Brandon P. Donnelly is a native of Slidell, LA. Cat bite; animal bite; infection. Occasionally an infection can cause tendinitis, especially infection from a cat or dog bite to the hand or a finger. "Dogs' teeth are blunter, so they don't tend to penetrate as deeply and they tend to leave a larger wound after they bite," study senior author Dr. Brian Carlsen, a Mayo Clinic plastic surgeon and orthopedic hand surgeon, said in a clinic news release. Go to doctor or ER: Cat bites to the hand and wrist have a high incidence of infection. Polymer-Based Constructs for Flexor Tendon Repair: A Review. Bleeding may help flush out any bacteria that may have gotten into the wound. The skin usually flaps over the bite, thereby sealing off . Wecannot answer individual questions about whether your bite needs medical attention in the comments section. Eleven patients (Group A) were presented within 48 hours of their injury. "We don't play like we used to," Bothun said. 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. Signs and symptoms warranting earlier evaluation (e.g., fever, chills, increasing edema, erythema, numbness, drainage, and pain) were discussed. And of course, most of us will pet stray cats we meet along the way, but not all seemingly friendly cats remain friendly after being approached by strangers. Instead, call the animal control office in your area. The pain was markedly worse during second-digit flexion attempts or when pressure was applied. Infections occur as a result of a combination of the oral flora of the animal and the human skin flora. Cat bite: an injury not to underestimate. Microorganisms. Serious complications include infectious arthritis Acute Infectious Arthritis Acute infectious (septic) arthritis is a joint infection that evolves over hours or days. Which means there are very few white blood cells to fight the bacteria, and they have an easy time infecting your tendon cells. He described severe nonradiating pain to his right hand and second digit unrelieved by Vicodin or Naprosyn. Open cat bite of wrist; Open cat bite wound of neck; Present On Admission. for two weeks. Nerve injury: It's possible for the nerves to be damaged when a cat bites you. And your cat loves you (in its own fashion). - The management of bite wounds in children--A retrospective analysis at a level I trauma centre . (2016). It's the worst animal in the UK to be bitten by. What are the top 3 benefits of Vitamin E? They can seed bacteria in the joint and tendon sheaths. Therefore, its important to get an infection from a cat bite treated. extreme lower back pain after a nasty cat bite that required intravenus antibiotics in the hospital followed up with pain meds and antibiotics antiinflammatory meds, swelling decreasing throbbing pain decreasing, back pain is unbearable. 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). Felines' sharp teeth can inject harmful bacteria deep into joints and tissue, doctors warn SUNDAY, Feb. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cat bites may look less serious than dog bites, but beware: They can cause dangerous infections, particularly when they involve the hand, new research indicates. 2014 Feb;39(2):286-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2013.11.003. If you have a hand injury and would like to have it evaluated by our areas leading hand specialist, contact us today to schedule an appointment. 2006 Mar;31(3):468-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.12.011. The patient was able to return to work. 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. Kheiran A, Palial V, Rollett R, Wildin CJ, Chatterji U, Singh HP. Diagnosis of Ligament and Tendon Conditions in Cats doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0372-2022. and transmitted securely. J Hand Surg Am. Stress the importance of immediately washing the wound with antiseptic solution and water and seeking immediate evaluation. Some bruising may develop, but the wound should heal within a week to 10 days. . Misunderstanding this risk has led to a worrying number of hospitalizations, as patients require surgery to clean wounds or remove tissue thats become infected. If the wound is deep, if you see signs of infection as listed above, or if you have any other reason for concern, be sure to see your doctor. Polymers (Basel). INTRODUCTION. (2021). Please login or register first to view this content. There are tons of dangerous bacteria flourishing inside a cats mouth. Cat bites to the hand can be especially dangerous since tendon sheaths and joints are close to the surface in the hand and cat bites penetrate deeply. FOIA No drainage, fever, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, or wheeze was reported. Small but deep punctures there led to a higher risk of hospitalization than bites into soft tissue, according to the study. Patients with joint capsule penetration, tendon injury, or bites older than 24 hours were excluded. Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats. The wound canal can reach into a joint or onto a bone. Obviously, the best bite is the one that has been prevented. 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. Pasteurella species was isolated from 35% of infected wounds. Twenty cases of cat bites to the hand and wrist were retrospectively reviewed between 2014 and 2018. But remember, if you are bitten, prompt medical care is required to prevent serious, even long-term complications from a cat bite infection. In most cases, bites that were positioned directly over the wrist or another joint were more likely to result in hospitalization than bites to soft tissue, the researchers said. Cats teeth are sharp and pointy. 2006 Mar;31(3):468-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.12.011. If left untreated, infections can potentially lead to scarring, tissue loss, or even life threatening sepsis. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read all about risks and treatment for a cat bite. Common symptoms are localized bone pain and tenderness with constitutional symptoms (in acute read more . Unlike other animal bites, which can tear flesh and even break bones, these deeper wounds are much harder to clean. 2022 Oct;35(5):498-499. doi: 10.37201/req/009.2022.