Animal and Human Bites

Emergencies

Yes	Do you have any of the following symptoms that require emergency treatment? Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

• Signs of shock occur:
  • In children.
  • In adults and older children.
• Severe bleeding from a bite does not slow during the first 15 minutes of applying steady, direct pressure.
• Moderate to severe difficulty breathing occurs with a deep bite to the neck or chest:
  • In children.
  • In adults and older children.
• Moderate to severe pain occurs with a deep bite to the abdomen.
• A bite to the eyeball or near the eye occurs.
• A bite has amputated or partially amputated an extremity.

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Note:

If bleeding is the main symptom, see how to stop bleeding.

Yes	Is your bite bleeding?
Yes	Do you think a bite has damaged deep tissues?
Yes	Do you have signs of decreased blood flow at or near the bite injury?
Yes	Do you have any loss of function at or near the bite injury?
Yes	Do you have swelling or bruising at or near a bite injury?
Yes	Do you think a bite was caused by abuse or neglect?
Yes	Are you worried that you may not have been able to get a bite clean enough using home treatment?
Yes	Do you have a bite that has a high risk for infection?
Yes	Do you think you have an infection at the site of a bite?
Yes	Do you have a bite that may need stitches, staples, or skin adhesives?
Yes	Have you been bitten in the past few weeks and you now have symptoms of illness?
Yes	Are you worried about getting rabies from your bite?
Yes	Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

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Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: June 30, 2006
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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