What to do if a cat bites you and your finger (arm or leg) swells?

The fact that domestic cats are cute, lovely creatures is not even discussed.
And the fact that we love them unconditionally is also a fact. But! But despite all their cuddliness, our pets are animals. Moreover, they are predators. And they have weapons for defense and attack - these are their teeth and claws. And even the kindest cat can use them one day. And we must not forget about this!

Everyone has probably noticed how long and painfully cat bites and scratches take to heal. If they finally healed, that’s good. You could say I was lucky. Alas, this does not always happen. Here are some examples taken from online forums:

Scary? Now more details.

Why is a cat bite dangerous?

The main danger is the sharp teeth of cats, which leave damage to the skin in the form of small puncture wounds. Not only the skin can be damaged, but also other nearby tissues - muscles and tendons. When bitten, various pathogenic microflora contained in the animal’s oral cavity can enter the human body. The chance of developing an infection is approximately 80%.

The greatest threat to both adults and children is a street animal. Stray cats have to eat birds, mice and even waste. The saliva of infected animals contains the following microorganisms:

• pasteurella;
• fusobacteria;
• bacteroides;
• staphylococci;
• streptococci, etc.

Pasteurella

Pasteurella is one of the most common pathogenic microorganisms. This is the causative agent of a dangerous disease that quickly spreads throughout the body and affects vital organs.

When bitten and scratched by a pet's claws, lymphoreticulosis can develop - a benign pathology, cat scratch disease. The clinical picture appears after the affected area has healed. Meningitis or fever may develop.

Bites to the face, neck, arm joints or genitals are most dangerous, since these organs have a large number of nerve endings. The infection spreads through them, which can result in a serious complication. Children who like to play with cats or kittens are at risk. Wounds heal slowly, leaving scars on the skin.

Prevention of complications

The risk of developing negative consequences after a cat attack remains quite high.

Please note what to do if you are bitten by a domestic cat or a stray animal in order to prevent complications:

• thoroughly rinse and treat damaged areas;
• do not apply a tight bandage to wounds, as this will slow down its healing and contribute to the development of infections, in particular anaerobic bacteria;
• do not ignore the need to use medications;
• Use traditional recipes only as an auxiliary treatment, making sure in advance that there are no contraindications;
• consult a doctor about the current situation;
• If necessary, get vaccinated against rabies and tetanus;
• in case of weakened immunity, the victim should be under constant supervision;
• If suspicious symptoms appear, contact the hospital immediately.

For more information on home treatment for cat bites, watch the video in this article.

What signs appear when bitten?

When a cat bites, the following symptoms appear:

• redness appears around the wound;
• when bitten on the neck, finger or face, swelling occurs;
• high probability of severe and prolonged bleeding;
• deterioration of health;
• fever, pain at the site of the bite.

The human body's reaction to a cat bite depends not only on the location or depth. The area of ​​the damaged area is also of great importance. You need to know everything about the health of cats, whether the animals have been vaccinated, what microorganisms are present in their saliva. Bacteria that get into the wound can cause the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• edema formation;
• development of a purulent process at the site of the bite.

Enlarged lymph nodes

Symptoms of cat scratch disease:

• chills;
• temperature rise up to +40 °C;
• lack of appetite;
• enlargement of lymph nodes located next to the bite;
• bad feeling;
• Strong headache.

After about 2 weeks, the patient’s condition improves, the affected skin is restored, but a possible complication is a purulent abscess that requires immediate surgical intervention.

Bites from street cats are especially dangerous. In this case, unsafe infections may develop, which are characterized by the following clinical picture:

• the appearance of pus or lumps at the site of injury;
• severe nausea and vomiting;
• a sharp increase in temperature;
• pre-fainting or fainting state;
• the occurrence of cramps in the legs or arms.

It is important to observe the person’s condition for some time after the incident. This is especially true for young children.

Signs of infection

After a cat bite, you should listen to how you feel and pay attention to the condition of the wound. This safety requirement will make it possible to identify pathology at the initial stage and relieve the victim of painful symptoms and life-threatening complications.

Note! If a cat bite causes suppuration and severe swelling of the injured area, the infection can “leak” into the periosteum, joint or bloodstream.

Swelling

Any cat "mark" will swell and swell, whether it's a deep bite or a superficial scratch. It happens that the swelling surrounding the wound turns red and hurts. This indicates the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms under the skin. Provided the bitten area is thoroughly treated and the victim follows hygienic requirements, the swelling will disappear in a few days.

Fever

When a cat is bitten, the temperature may rise to subfebrile levels (37.1 - 37.7 C°) and not subside for 1-2 days. If the mercury column has jumped to 38 C° or higher, and the inflamed area of ​​skin literally “boils” - this is an alarming symptom indicating a serious inflammatory process. In this case, without qualified medical assistance, the victim’s condition will only worsen.

Redness

Human skin responds to any damage with irritation and redness. When there is a cat bite and the wound becomes infected, severe redness is accompanied by overheating of the injured area. Purulent discharge may appear.

Important! A cat bite is more dangerous than a cat bite. Males disappear on the street for days, communicate with relatives, and can have a snack in the trash heap for company. As a result, cadaveric poison, which is extremely dangerous for humans, remains on the animal’s teeth.

First aid

It is advisable to provide first aid to a person who has been bitten by a cat immediately. This is especially true in cases where the damage was caused by stray animals. Before going to the hospital you must:

1. Wash the wound site thoroughly with water and laundry soap. It is advisable to carry out the procedure within 10–15 minutes so that pathogenic bacteria that have entered the wound are removed.
2. Treat the washed wound with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or vodka.
3. If bleeding occurs, it must be stopped using a pressure bandage. A cat bite in most cases causes capillary bleeding, which helps wash away the cat's saliva.
4. The skin around the wound is treated with alcohol, iodine or a solution of brilliant green.
5. Antibacterial ointment is applied to the damaged area.
6. To prevent infection and contamination, the damaged area is covered with a sterile bandage.

Applying a sterile bandage to the bite site

If a person is bitten by a domestic and vaccinated cat, and the damage is minor, it is enough to treat it with antiseptics and apply a sterile bandage. If, when a finger is injured, it swells or the hand swells, most likely this indicates the development of a complication as a result of the close proximity of joints and bones. The bacteria that get there cause inflammation of the periosteum and joint capsule.

Dangerous symptoms and consequences

Any damage to the skin is accompanied by redness and swelling - a natural reaction to irritation. If your hand is swollen after a cat bite, then within 1-2 days after treating the wound, the swelling and accompanying redness should disappear.

The manifestation of other negative symptoms reflects the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in the wound, inflammation from a cat bite. The following signs indicate the need for serious treatment:

• increasing pain at the site of injury;
• large bruise;
• the appearance of purulent-bloody discharge from the wound;
• extensive swelling;
• increased body temperature;
• general deterioration of the victim's condition.

You should not self-medicate or look for something to treat a cat bite on your arm if tissue inflammation is noticed. The wound should be shown to a doctor before the consequences become irreversible.

If, after a cat bite, the finger that suffered the most is swollen, the joint capsule may be damaged, and inflammation of the periosteum has begun. Home treatment cannot solve this problem.

Puncture wounds caused by teeth are a favorable environment for the development of anaerobic bacteria that cause dangerous diseases:

• tetanus - the spread of toxins leads to muscle spasms, paralysis of the respiratory and cardiac systems, which can be fatal;
• rabies
• gas gangrene - severe swelling with poor circulation, resulting in necrotic processes.

For persons prone to acute allergic reactions, cat bites are doubly dangerous. Swelling and itching are treated with additional antihistamines.

Of particular concern is a cat bite on the arm or leg if it was attacked by a stray animal or an unknown unhealthy looking cat. A visit to the emergency room is required before any symptoms appear, as there is a risk of contracting the rabies virus.

Urgent vaccination with subsequent vaccinations on schedule can stop the infection. The loss of time and the appearance of the first signs of the disease indicate the irreversibility of the disease.

Children and the elderly should not be left without medical attention. An imperfect or weakened immune system does not prevent bacteria from entering the bloodstream, and there is a risk of developing sepsis.

When should you see a doctor?

To avoid possible complications such as tissue necrosis or amputation of a limb, you must contact a medical facility. Self-medication is not recommended.

You should also consult a doctor in case of other complications:

• large area of ​​damage;
• numerous bites;
• bleeding that does not stop within 15 minutes;
• bad feeling;
• heat;
• the appearance of seizures;
• the presence of swelling, redness or suppuration at the site of the bite;
• street animal bite;
• bite to the joint, face or neck;
• loss of consciousness.

To prevent further spread of the infection, you must contact a doctor within 12 hours after the incident. In such cases, a local therapist, traumatologist or infectious disease specialist will help.

Treatment after a bite

Doxycycline

After the bite, you must start taking antibiotics within 24 hours. The doctor selects appropriate drug therapy:

1. Ceftriaxone.
2. Doxycycline.
3. Amoxiclav.

After 2 days, the site of injury is carefully examined; if there are no symptoms of infection, antibiotics are discontinued. Otherwise, the course of therapy continues until the end. The damaged area is treated with antiseptics several times a day until swelling and inflammation disappear. Anti-inflammatory drugs will help relieve swelling, pain, and speed up healing.

For quick healing, it is recommended to take salt baths. Dissolve 2 tbsp in a glass of hot water. l. salt, and if necessary, the amount of salt is increased. Baths should be used 4-5 times a day. An alternative to salt baths can be alcohol compresses.

Tetanus and rabies are the main complications that can occur after a cat bite. The only salvation for a person in this case is immediate vaccination.

Folk remedies

Ointments and decoctions prepared at home can serve as auxiliary therapeutic methods. Their advantage is not only efficiency, but also accessibility. However, you should not rely only on them, because folk remedies cannot fully get rid of swelling, pain or suppuration.

Among folk remedies that effectively cope with damage after cat bites, the following recipes are popular:

1. Aloe juice. The anti-inflammatory and regenerating effects of lotions will help calm inflammation and speed up the healing process.
2. Chastukha root. Decoctions and powders are prepared from the root of the plant to help relieve inflammation and painful bites.
3. Clove decoction. To prepare the tincture, you need a glass of hot water and 10 buds of spice. The product helps fight inflammation and is taken 1 tbsp. l. in a day.
4. Chamomile. An infusion made from flowers is a natural antiseptic and is used daily to wash wounds.
5. Calendula. To prepare compresses, a ready-made pharmacy tincture is used. Gauze is moistened with the solution and applied to the wound.

Complications from a cat bite

Cat saliva contains many staphylococci and streptococci, which can cause infections.

The consequences of a cat bite can be the most dire:

• tissue necrosis;
• symptoms of suffocation;
• renal failure.

Such consequences are especially dangerous for people with diabetes or weakened immune systems.

When attacked by stray animals, complications may include:

• encephalitis;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes;
• bone suppuration;
• sepsis (blood poisoning);
• infection with rabies or tetanus.

Antitetanus serum

Rabies is an incurable disease. It can be transmitted even in the absence of obvious symptoms. If the animal does not show signs of rabies, this does not mean that the cat is not contagious. The virus may already be present in saliva. It is advisable to catch the animal and study it in the laboratory. A thorough study of cat diseases and their symptoms is carried out. Injections are given to the victim, and the study will make it clear whether to continue therapy or not.

Tetanus is a disease that poses a threat to human life. The reason is a microbe living in the soil. Anti-tetanus serum is administered immediately after the bite if the person was injured by a stray animal or the previous vaccination has expired (10 years).

Symptoms of rabies in humans

after the bite

Signs that a person is infected with rabies most often occur if they are bitten by an outdoor cat. In such cases, it is not recommended to limit yourself to first aid; you must immediately go to the emergency room. There is a high probability that a stray animal will become infected through a bite. Symptoms of rabies in a person after interacting with a cat are not difficult to recognize; the victim’s condition worsens, weakness appears, body temperature rises, the wound festers and becomes inflamed, and bleeding is possible. And you can’t do without treatment.

rabies injection

It is important for every person to understand that signs of rabies do not appear immediately. If you are bitten by a cat, then other than a swollen affected area and painful sensations, you will no longer feel any discomfort. Negative symptoms will appear later, after a week, or even three (depending on where the bite was made). What are these signs? The victim begins to be disturbed by bright light, even to the point of photophobia, and it is uncomfortable to hear loud sounds, which are terribly annoying. In some cases, problems with swallowing and body aches appear. It is important to consult a doctor promptly.