Editing Animal bite

{{Short description|Wound or puncture caused by animal teeth}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
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| name            = Animal bite
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| image           = USN Medic Louis Kost gets attacked by Bruno crop retouch.tif
| caption         = Military working dog training to attack by biting
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An '''animal bite''' is a [[wound]], usually a puncture or laceration, caused by the teeth. An animal bite usually results in a break in the skin but also includes contusions from the excessive pressure on body tissue from the bite. The contusions can occur without a break in the skin. Bites can be provoked or unprovoked. Other bite attacks may be apparently unprovoked. <!--Self-inflicted bites occur in some genetic illnesses, such as [[Lesch-Nyhan syndrome]]. get a citation for this statement --> Biting is a physical action not only describing an attack but it is a normal response in an animal as it eats, carries objects, softens and prepares food for its young, removes [[ectoparasites]] from its body surface, removes plant seeds attached to its fur or hair, scratching itself, and grooming other animals. Animal bites often result in serious infections and mortality. [[Animal attack|Animal]] bites not only include injuries from the teeth of reptiles, mammals, but fish, and amphibians. Arthropods can also bite and leave injuries.

==Signs and symptoms==
Bite wounds can cause a number of signs and symptoms
*Generalized tissue damage due to tearing and scratching
*Serious [[hemorrhage]] if major blood vessels are pierced
*[[Infection]] by [[bacterium|bacteria]] or other [[pathogen]]s, including rabies
*Introduction of [[Venom (poison)|venom]] into the wound by venomous animals such as some [[snake]]s
*Introduction of other irritants into the wound, causing [[inflammation]] and [[itching]]

==Classification==

Bites are usually classified by the type of animal causing the wound.
Many different animals are known to bite humans.

===Vertebrates===
[[File:Jaw of the piranha.jpg|thumb|Jaw of the piranha with biting equipment displayed]]
*Companion animals, including [[dog]]s, [[cat]]s, [[rat]]s, [[ferret]]s, and [[companion parrot|parrots]], may bite humans.
*[[Wildlife]] may sometimes bite humans. The bites of various mammals such as [[bat]]s, [[skunk]]s, [[gray wolf|wolves]], [[raccoon]]s, etc. may transmit [[rabies]], which is almost always fatal if left untreated.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Minghui|first=Ren|last2=Stone|first2=Matthew|last3=Semedo|first3=Maria Helena|last4=Nel|first4=Louis|date=August 2018|title=New global strategic plan to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030|journal=The Lancet Global Health|volume=6|issue=8|pages=e828–e829|doi=10.1016/s2214-109x(18)30302-4|issn=2214-109X|doi-access=free}}</ref>
*[[Human bite]]s are themselves capable of doing great flesh damage, but are particularly known for spreading communicable diseases

Involuntary [[biting]] injuries due to closed-fist injuries from fists striking teeth (referred to as reverse bite injuries) are a common consequence of [[Hand to hand combat|fist fights]]. These have been termed "fight bites". Injuries in which the [[Knuckle|knuckle joints]] or [[tendon]]s of the hand are bitten into tend to be the most serious.

Teething infants are known to bite objects to relieve pressure on their growing teeth, and may inadvertently bite people's hands or arms while doing so. Young children may also bite people out of anger or misbehaviour, although this is usually corrected early in the child's life.

===Reverse bite injury===
A reverse bite injury (also called a clenched fist injury, closed fist injury, or fight bite) results when a person punches another person in the face, and the skin (and sometimes tendons) of their knuckles are cut against the teeth of the person they are punching.<ref name="PerronMiller2002">{{cite journal |doi=10.1053/ajem.2002.31146 |pmid=11880877 |title=Orthopedic pitfalls in the ED: Fight bite |journal=The American Journal of Emergency Medicine |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=114–117 |year=2002 |last1=Perron |first1=Andrew D. |last2=Miller |first2=Mark D. |last3=Brady |first3=William J. }}</ref> The proximity of the wound is often located over the [[metacarpophalangeal joint]] resulting in tendon injury.<ref name="HenryPurcell2007">{{cite journal |doi=10.1136/emj.2006.045054 |pmid=17582031 |pmc=2658386 |title=The human bite injury: A clinical audit and discussion regarding the management of this alcohol fuelled phenomenon |journal=Emergency Medicine Journal |volume=24 |issue=7 |pages=455–458 |year=2007 |last1=Henry |first1=F. P. |last2=Purcell |first2=E. M. |last3=Eadie |first3=P. A. }}</ref>

The medical treatment of this injury is similar to those of a [[Human biting injuries|human bite]], but may also involve damage of the underlying tendons.<ref name="ShewringTrickett2015">{{cite journal |doi=10.1177/1753193415576249 |pmid=25770897 |title=The management of clenched fist 'fight bite' injuries of the hand |journal=Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) |volume=40 |issue=8 |pages=819–824 |year=2015 |last1=Shewring |first1=D. J. |last2=Trickett |first2=R. W. |last3=Subramanian |first3=K. N. |last4=Hnyda |first4=R. }}</ref>

These injuries should be managed as other human bites: wound irrigation and [[antibiotics]] are essential as human saliva can contain a number of bacteria.<ref name="TalanAbrahamian2003">{{cite journal |doi=10.1086/379331 |pmid=14614671 |title=Clinical Presentation and Bacteriologic Analysis of Infected Human Bites in Patients Presenting to Emergency Departments |journal=Clinical Infectious Diseases |volume=37 |issue=11 |pages=1481–1489 |year=2003 |last1=Talan |first1=D. A. |last2=Abrahamian |first2=F. M. |last3=Moran |first3=G. J. |last4=Citron |first4=D. M. |last5=Tan |first5=J. O. |last6=Goldstein |first6=E. J. C. |author7=Emergency Medicine Human Bite Infection Study Group |doi-access=free }}</ref> The nature of these injuries is such that even if the injury is optimally managed, poor outcomes may still occur.<ref name="PerronMiller2002"/>

===Arthropods===
The bites of arthropods have some of the most serious health consequences known. Mosquito bites transmit serious disease and result in millions of deaths and illnesses in the world. Ticks also transmit many diseases such as [[Lyme disease]].
[[File:Mosquito bite from Flickr.jpg|thumb|A mosquito bite]]
*[[Spider bite]]
*[[Insect bites and stings]]
**[[Flea bite]]s are responsible for the transmission of [[Plague (disease)|plague]].
**[[Mosquito bite]]s are responsible for the transmission of [[dengue fever]] and [[malaria]].
*[[Leech bite]]

==Mechanism==

=== Trauma ===
A natural consequence of a bite is tissue trauma at the site. Trauma may consist of scratching, tearing, punture or laceration of the skin, hematoma (bruising), embedding of foreign objects, for example a tooth or hair, damage to or severing of underlying structures such as connective tissue or muscle, amputations, and the ripping off of skin and hair. If major blood vessels are damaged, severe blood loss can occur.<ref name=Cherry2014/>

=== Infection ===
Pathogen organisms can be introduced into the bite. Some of the pathogens can originate from the mouth of the 'biter', the substrate onto which the injured person or animal can fall or from the naturally occurring microorganisms that are present on the skin or hair of the animal. The advent of antibiotics improved the outcome of bite wound infections.<ref name=Cherry2014/>

===Rabies===
Animal bites where skin has been penetrated, most commonly by dogs and [[bat]]s, transmit rabies to humans.<ref name=WHO2015>{{cite web|title=Rabies Fact Sheet N°99|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/|work=World Health Organization|access-date=10 January 2015|date=Sep 2014}}</ref> Rabies from other animals is rare.<ref name=WHO2015/> If the animal is caught alive or dead with its head preserved, the head can be analyzed to detect the disease. Signs of rabies include foaming at the mouth, growling, self-mutilation, jerky behavior, red eyes, and [[Rabies#Hydrophobia|hydrophobia]].

If the animal cannot be captured, preventative rabies treatment is recommended in many places. Several countries are known not to have native rabies, see the Wikipedia page for [[Prevalence of rabies#Rabies-free jurisdictions|prevalence of rabies]].

==Treatment==
The first step in treatment includes washing the bite wound.<ref name=WHO2013>{{cite web|title=Animal bites Fact sheet N°373|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs373/en/|work=World Health Organization|access-date=5 May 2014|date=February 2013}}</ref> If there is a low risk of infection the wound may be sutured.<ref name=WHO2013/> Debridement and drainage of bite wounds was practiced in the pre-antibiotic era, but high rates of infection still occurred. A 2019 [[Cochrane (organisation)|Cochrane]] [[systematic review]] aimed to evaluate the healing and infection rates in bite wounds based on if/when they were stitched closed. The review authors looked for studies that compared stitching wounds closed straight away, leaving them open for a short time or not stitching them at all. Due to a lack of high-certainty evidence, the review authors concluded that more robust [[randomised controlled trials]] were needed to fully answer this question.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bhaumik|first=Soumyadeep|last2=Kirubakaran|first2=Richard|last3=Chaudhuri|first3=Sirshendu|date=2019-12-06|title=Primary closure versus delayed or no closure for traumatic wounds due to mammalian bite|url= |journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews|doi=10.1002/14651858.cd011822.pub2|issn=1465-1858|pmc=6894945|pmid=31805611}}</ref>

===Antibiotics===
Antibiotics to prevent infection are recommended for dog and cat bites of the hand,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bestbets.org/bets/bet.php?id=1021 |title=Antibiotics in cat bites |website=BestBets }}</ref> and human bites if they are more than superficial.<ref name="Oehler2009">{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/S1473-3099(09)70110-0 |pmid=19555903 |title=Bite-related and septic syndromes caused by cats and dogs |journal=The Lancet Infectious Diseases |volume=9 |issue=7 |pages=439–447 |year=2009 |last1=Oehler |first1=Richard L. |last2=Velez |first2=Ana P. |last3=Mizrachi |first3=Michelle |last4=Lamarche |first4=Jorge |last5=Gompf |first5=Sandra |citeseerx=10.1.1.490.2232 }}</ref> They are also recommended in those who have [[immunodeficiency|poor immune function]].<ref name=WHO2013/> Evidence for antibiotics to prevent infection in bites in other areas is not clear.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001738 |pmid=11406003 |title=Antibiotic prophylaxis for mammalian bites |journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=2 |pages=CD001738 |year=2001 |last1=Medeiros |first1=Iara Marques |last2=Saconato |first2=Humberto }}</ref>

The first choice is [[amoxicillin with clavulanic acid]], and if the person is penicillin-allergic, [[doxycycline]] and [[metronidazole]].<ref name="Oehler2009"/> The antistaphylococcal penicillins (e.g., [[cloxacillin]], [[nafcillin]], [[flucloxacillin]]) and the [[macrolide]]s (e.g., [[erythromycin]], [[clarithromycin]]) are not used for empirical therapy, because they do not cover ''[[Pasteurella]]'' species.<ref name="Oehler2009"/>

===Vaccinations===
Rabies prevention is generally available in [[North America]] and the [[Northern European]] states.

[[Tetanus toxoid]] treatment is recommended in those whose vaccinations are not up to date and have a bite that punctures the skin.<ref name=WHO2013/> [[Tetanus immune globulin]] is indicated in people with more than 10 years since prior vaccination. Tetanus boosters (Td) should be given every ten years.

{|
|- valign="top"
| '''Prior toxoid'''
| '''Clean minor wounds'''
| '''All other wounds'''
|- style="vertical-align:top; background:rgb(217, 195, 195);"
| < 3 doses
| TT: yes, '''TIG: no'''
| TT: yes, TIG: yes
|-
| ≥ 3 doses
| TT: if last dose ≥ 10yr<br> '''TIG: no'''
| TT: if last dose ≥ 5yr, TIG: no
|}

TT = tetanus toxoid; TIG: tetanus immune globulin

===Mosquito bites===
{{main|Insect bites and stings}}

[[Antihistamine]]s are effective treatment for the symptoms from bites.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bestbets.org/bets/bet.php?id=1074 |title=BestBets: Oral antihistamines for insect bites }}</ref> Many diseases such as [[malaria]] and [[Dengue fever|dengue]] are transmitted by [[mosquitoes]].

== Epidemiology ==
Human bites are the third most frequent type of bite after dog and cat bites.<ref name=Cherry2014>{{cite book | last = Cherry | first = James | title = Feigin and Cherry's textbook of pediatric infectious diseases – Animal and Human Bites, Morven S. Edwards | publisher = Elsevier/Saunders | location = Philadelphia, PA | year = 2014 | isbn = 978-1-4557-1177-2 }}{{page needed|date=November 2018}}</ref> [[Dog bites]] are commonplace, with children the most commonly bitten and the face and scalp the most common target.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Henry |last2=Neumeier |first2=Anna |last3=Davies |first3=Brett |last4=Durairaj |first4=Vikram |title=Analysis of Pediatric Facial Dog Bites |journal=Craniomaxillofacial Trauma and Reconstruction |date=3 September 2013 |volume=06 |issue=4 |pages=225–232 |doi=10.1055/s-0033-1349211|pmid=24436765 |pmc=3820741 }}</ref> About 4.7 million [[dog bite]]s are reported annually in the [[United States]].<ref>[http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/dog_care/stay_dog_bite_free/questions_and_answers_about_dog_bites/ Questions and Answers about Dog Bites] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304025320/http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/dog_care/stay_dog_bite_free/questions_and_answers_about_dog_bites/ |date=4 March 2009 }}</ref> The US estimated annual count of animal bites is 250,000 human bites, 1 to 2 million dog bites, 400,000 cat bites, and 45,000 bites from snakes. Bites from skunks, horses, squirrels, rats, rabbits, pigs, and [[monkey bite|monkey]]s may be up to 1 percent of bite injuries. Pet ferrets attacks that were unprovoked have caused serious facial injuries. Non-domesticated animals though assumed to be more common especially as a cause of rabies infection, make up less than one percent of reported bite wounds. When a person is bitten, it is more likely to occur on the right arm, most likely due to defensive reactions when the person uses their dominant arm. Estimates are that three-quarters of bites are located on the arms or legs of humans. Bites to the face of humans constitute only 10 percent of the total. Two-thirds of bite injuries in humans are suffered by children aged ten and younger.<ref name=Cherry2014/>

Up to three-fourths of dog bites happen to those younger than 20 years-old. In the United States, the costs associated with dog bites are estimated to be more than $1 billion annually. The age groups that suffer most from dog bites are children 5 to 9 years-old. Often, bites go unreported and no medical treatment given - these bites go unreported. As many as one percent of pediatric emergency room visits are for treatment for animal bites. This is more frequent during the summer months. Up to five percent of children receiving emergency care for dog bites are then admitted to the hospital. Bites typically occur in the late afternoon and early evening. Girls are bitten more frequently by cats than they are by dogs. Boys are bitten by dogs two times more often than girls are bitten by dogs.<ref name=Cherry2014/>

== History ==

The bites of humans are recorded during the biblical era. Reports of secondary infection occurring after a human bite in children have been noted in the United States since at least 1910. Morbidity and mortality rates improved with the use of antibiotics.<ref name=Cherry2014/>

==See also==
* [[Bite force quotient]]
* [[Wilderness first aid]]
* [[Dog bite]]
* [[Dog bite prevention]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Medical resources
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|  ICD9           = {{ICD9|E906.5}} 
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|  MedlinePlus    = 000034 
|  eMedicineSubj  =article 
|  eMedicineTopic =768875 
|  MeshID         = D001733
}}

* [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/animal-bites WHO fact sheet on animal bites]

{{commons category|Animal bites}}
{{General injuries}}
{{Animal bites and stings}}

[[Category:Animal bites| ]]
[[Category:Pain infliction methods]]
[[Category:Veterinary medicine]]