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Bite, Animal Updated 12/2010

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BASICS

  • Description
  • Etiology

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • Pre-hospital
  • Initial Stabilization
  • ED Treatment
  • Medication (Drugs)
  • In-patient Considerations

Ongoing Care

  • Follow-Up Recommendations
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description
  • Most bites are from provoked animals.
  • Dog bite wounds:
    • Large dogs inflict the most serious wounds (pit bulls cause the most human fatalities).
    • Most fatalities in children (70%) due to bites to face/neck
    • Dogs of family or friends account for most bites.
  • Cat bite wounds:
    • Majority from pets known to victim
    • 50% infection rate in those seeking care
    • Puncture wounds most frequent due to sharp thin teeth causing deep inoculation of bacteria
  • Cat-scratch disease (CSD):
    • 3 of the following 4 criteria:
      • Cat contact, with presence of scratch or inoculation lesion of the skin, eye, or mucous membrane
      • Positive CSD skin test result
      • Characteristic lymph node histopathology
      • Negative results of laboratory studies for other causes of lymphadenopathy ...

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See Also
Images >
FIG. 3.14. An infected dog bite.Credit: From Fleisher GR, MD, Ludwig S, MD, Baskin MN, MD. Atlas of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004.