Handy Health Guide to Bites and Stings by Alvin Silverstein

Author:Alvin Silverstein [Silverstein, Alvin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4645-1251-3
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2014-03-11T04:00:00+00:00

Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

Animal bites can transmit germs that cause serious diseases. Here you see the bacteria that cause tetanus (left), and the viruses that cause rabies (right).

Dog and cat bites can make you sick, too. Dog bites sometimes become infected with tetanus bacteria. Deep puncture wounds allow these bacteria to thrive and multiply. Tetanus is sometimes called “lockjaw” because a person’s jaw muscles may tighten up, making it hard to speak or eat. Other symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, and stiff muscles. If tetanus is not treated right away, death is likely.

Dogs and cats can also spread rabies. The germ that causes rabies (a virus) can be transmitted by an animal bite. It can also be spread if the animal’s infected saliva gets into an open wound or the nose or eyes. Rabies destroys nerve cells in the brain.

In most states, the law requires that cats and dogs have shots to protect them against rabies. That means the pets are safe—and so are their owners. But you should also be careful around wild animals, especially raccoons, foxes, and bats. They can carry rabies. Many rabid animals become aggressive, snapping at everything or everyone. Some may act confused, stagger, or walk in circles. Others may seem healthy, but act unusually friendly toward people. It’s hard to tell if an animal has rabies. So if any animal bites you, you should get medical help immediately. Rabies almost always kills if it is not treated quickly.

Cat-scratch disease is a mild illness caused by a bacterium in cat saliva. You can get the disease if an infected cat bites or scratches you. You may also get the illness by petting an infected cat and then rubbing your eye or touching your mouth. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, tiredness, headache, and loss of appetite. Most people get better on their own in about three weeks, but a few develop serious problems such as encephalitis.

As you can see, bites can be very dangerous. If any animal bites you, tell an adult right away and get medical help.

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