Cat scratches and bites can cause cat scratch disease, a bacterial infection carried in cat saliva. This infection should be treated within the first 48 hours after the cat bite. Rabies If the animal’s vaccination status is unknown or if the animal is not captured, public health officials should be contacted to discuss risk of rabies in the area and the need for prophylaxis (20) . If affected persons treat the cat bite by a doctor, there are usually no complications, and a maximum of a small scar remains on the skin. Complications were those that are typically encountered with cat bites (and good reasons to avoid them): abscesses, tendon infection and nerve involvement. People and animals have a lot of bacteria in their mouths, which can cause an infection if a bite breaks the skin. Human Bites. Therefore, treatment with antibiotics may be required as a precaution. This Pasteurella maltoside bacterial infection is signed by rapid swelling on the bite site within eight to twenty-four hours after the bite. Cat bite: risks. However, if left untreated, an infection can cause serious complications including: Any bite should be cleaned immediately and assessed by a physician as soon as possible, as antibiotics are frequently needed to treat infection. In both types of bites up to 25% of patients present greater than 48 hours after the injury and many do not present until complications, like infection, are present (4). Like dog and cat bites, human bites can carry a significant risk for infection. ** If you are bitten by a cat seek medical attention to receive the appropriate vaccinations and treatments to prevent complications. Bites located on the hands have a greater risk of leading to further complications such as osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. The symptoms of an infected cat bite are swelling, redness, puss in the area and a fever. Pasteurellosis Infection. The disease spreads when an infected cat licks a person’s open wound, or bites or scratches a person hard enough to break the surface of the skin. ; The infection later progresses to painful regional lymph nodes (which may be felt as small bumps under the skin) over one to three weeks. A cat bite wound can turn into a serious infection within 12 hours after the biting and over 40% of wounds get infected. Signs and symptoms. Dog bites Cat bites have a 30-50% infection rate. Some of the complications include: Parinaud's oculoglandular syndrome - occurs when the germ gets into the eye and spreads to the gland (lymph node) in front of the ear. Closed-fist injury (when the fist strikes the teeth on another individual) Occlusive bite (when someone bites with sufficient force to break skin) Microbiology. This is a bacterial infection caused by pasteurella multocida, a species of Pasteurella.The bacteria reside in the mouth and respiratory tract of … But: cat bites are much more likely to become inflamed and often painful. Complications that arise from animal bites are uncommon, but if they do occur they can be serious. Common organisms include: Infected bites rarely cause any serious problems, as long as they are promptly treated using antibiotics. Cat Bites. Sometimes, direct tissue damage from the cat bite can impair mobility or cause tenosynovitis or arthritis. Complications can occur if the infection gets into the eye or if it spreads to other parts of the body. Local infections such as an abscess or a closed-off pocket of puss are common complications of cat bite wounds. Approximately 50% of cat bites lead to infection in people. Middle-aged women were most common cat bite victims. Remember that cat bites can have long-term consequences. Cat bites are puncture wounds that can cause bacterial infections with Pasteurella multocida that can spread within the tissues or into the blood stream. Cat bite wounds are more likely to become infected than dog bite wounds, due to the tendency of cat bites to result in deep puncture wounds. Research suggests a cat may get these bacteria from fleas. Yet most animal bites are avoidable: Understanding how to interact with animals, and staying aware of any signals of aggression or fear, are both critically important. Several strategies can reduce the swelling of an infected animal bite to the finger and decrease the potential for complications. Infection with P. multocida generally presents as a rapidly spreading cellulitis, usually occurring within 24 h of the bite. Tetanus; Another disease that is likely to be caused by cat bites is tetanus. They 're not checked and treated quickly spread by cats the biting and over 40 % of cat scratch?... 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