Insect and Animal Bites It's never fun to be bitten by a mosquito. The itching can drive the calmest person crazy. Of course, there are more insects than mosquitoes that bite as well. Most are harmless; a person may never even realize they were bitten. On the other hand, an insect bite can be harmful, painful, and even deadly. While rare, it can happen. First of all, was it a bite or a sting? A sting will create a feeling of intense pain, a burning sensation, you will know something got you. This is followed by a redness of the skin, and usually swelling. Most stings will heal on their own, however, there are some cases that require medical attention. Some people have a severe allergic reaction to bee stings. Without proper treatment, a person could die from a bee sting. An insect bite can be painful also, horseflies cause a noticeable pain. Insects that bite usually inject saliva into the skin, and this can cause a reaction. Insect bite reactions are generally itching, redness, and sometime painful, or warm to the touch. If you have a patient that complains of an insect bite, the first question should be does the patient know what type of insect bit them. Certain spider bites can be very serious, and that should be ruled out. There can also be allergic reactions to some insects, if a patient questions if they should see a doctor, it's probably a safe bet to say yes. Related: How to Make Your Patients feel more Comfortable
Animal Bites Animal bites happen more often than most people realize. Even small dogs, and cats can bite and create infection. In many cases, it's the minor bites that cause a problem. When a dog bites and the wound produces blood, it somewhat cleans the wound out. A minor bite may not produce much blood, this germ from the bite remain in the puncture. Patients should be advised to thoroughly wash the bite and the surrounding area. Provided they know the dog has current vaccinations, the patient should watch the area closely for until healed. Any sign of infection, they should seek medical treatment immediately. Everyone always assumes the bites that require medical treatment are from dogs, however, that is not always true. Cats can bite and scratch causing infections more often than dogs. Because cats often have remnants of their litter box on their paws, a scratch from a cat can cause a serious problem. Any cat bite or scratch should be monitored very closely, and the patient should seek medical treatment at any sign of infection.
Animal bite Statistics -
A person is bitten every 6 minutes in the U.S. alone Rabies shots are no longer given in a series of 21 shots to the abdomen. The risk of infection from an animal bite is 10 times greater than the risk of contracting rabies. Of the dog bites that are reported each year, 7 out of 10 come from smaller dogs.
The best way to avoid a patient being injured from a bite is for them to avoid it. Not every, bite, can be avoided, however, with some caution many can. Where insects are concerned, wearing long pants when in wooded areas may help protect the legs. Using an insect repellent may repel most insects. Avoid peak hours for insects which are early morning and early evening. Related: Nurse Awards For animal bites, most occur from an innocent petting of a dog on a leash. A good rule to remember, cute dogs bite too. Never assume it is okay to pet a strange dog without the owners ‘approval. This is the most common way a bite occurs. Children that sustain animal bites should be monitored very closely for signs of infection. On average, one out of every ten animal bites develops an infection. Washing the area promptly can reduce the likelihood of infection by fifty percent. If a patient with a bite is concerned, always recommend they see their health care provider to rule out infection. Related: Exceptional Diabetes Educator Evelyn Thompson, RN, BSN, will be Honorably Mentioned in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter