If you know the cat thats bitten you has a rabies vaccine, its unlikely that youll contract rabies. government site. It was strongly advised that the patient follow up the next day, but Mr. H declined. The subjects were 18 females and two males aged 27-86 years (mean age of 58 years). Ms. Henderson is a family nurse practitioner at Wheaton Franciscan HealthcareAll Saints in Racine, Wisc. Cat bites and scratches: Sometimes more than just a cut. MeSH Disclaimer. Not all cat bites lead to infection, but enough do to warrant caution. Psoriatic arthritis. The second digit was warm to touch, red, and swollen. and transmitted securely. The pain was markedly worse during second-digit flexion attempts or when pressure was applied. Pasteurella species was isolated from 35% of infected wounds. Pet owners must be made aware of the seriousness of a cat bite. A doctor will decide if the wound needs stitches or surgery to heal properly. Conclusions: Before joining Pontchartrain Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, he completed a hand and microsurgery fellowship at the prestigiousPhiladelphia Hand Center. Positive tactile response to the digits of the right hand was achieved. It is especially dangerous for a cat to bite the wrist or hand - all places where joints, bones and tendons are close to the surface. Puncture wounds from a cat bite have a high risk of infection. Careers. Open cat bite of wrist; Open cat bite wound of neck; Present On Admission. . Felines' sharp teeth can inject harmful bacteria deep into joints and tissue, doctors warn. An official website of the United States government. Accessibility ", SOURCE: Mayo Clinic, news release, Feb. 5, 2014. Bacteria can be potentially seeded down into joints and tendon sheaths, far away from where it would be immediately noticed. While five- to nine-year-old males are the principal victims of dog bites, middle-aged women were the most common victims of cat bites to the hand, according to the Mayo Clinic study. Diabetic fingers with established peripheral neuropathy were more likely to undergo amputation. These include: An infection from a cat bite may set in within a few hours, but it can take 10 days or more for some infections, like cat-scratch disease, to start showing symptoms. . Read More, The Conscious Cat Product Guide features all of the best products for cats and cat lovers. Mr. H noted a progression of redness and swelling over the past three days, and admitted inconsistent use of the sling. The patient was switched to cefuroxime (Ceftin) 500 mg b.i.d. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0372-2022. The pain almost drove me up the wall.". Treatment can be nonoperative or operative depending on the zone of injury. He described severe nonradiating pain to his right hand and second digit unrelieved by Vicodin or Naprosyn. Once trapped under the skin, these bacteria spread and multiply, causing infection and inflammation (cellulitis) of the surrounding soft tissues. "When the cat bites the hand, the joints and tendons are protected with fluid and there is no circulation so bacteria can grow like crazy, making treatment longer in some case.". 1984 May;63(3):133-54. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help A continued decrease in range of motion of the second digit was demonstrated at the two-week follow-up, but the pain was significantly improved. In more extreme cases, redirected aggression can cause a cat to lash out at her guardian and cause severe damage. There are tons of dangerous bacteria flourishing inside a cats mouth. Capillary refill to the upper extremities measured fewer than three seconds. Cat bites carry other risks besides infections. "When my grandkids come over I don't let him around them, because things happen.". The family cat lunged at him and bit and scratched his hand. Symptoms include not only pain, but also numbness and paresthesia. Mr. Hs medical history included hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and tobacco abuse. (See also complex read more .). Brandon P. Donnelly, MD When To Worry The wrist or any joint in the fingers are usually the worst places to be wounded - and that's just where most people get bitten by cats. Your physician may also recommend a tetanus shot. In these cases, the researchers said, the wound should be treated aggressively. According to a 2016 case report, cat bites can injure a nerve in rare cases. 2006 Nov-Dec;106(6):692-5. doi: 10.1080/00015458.2006.11679983. Clean bite wounds thoroughly with soap and water. Cat bite injuries to the hand can progress to serious infection. Identifying Bug Bites and Stings, and How To Treat Them. In fact, a 2013 research review showed that Pasteurella is the most common organism isolated from both cat and dog bites. We cannot answer questions about whether your bite needs medical attention in the comments section. FOIA These bites may look harmless, but it is important to take immediate medical action after the initial injury. If the bite or scratch hasn't penetrated the skin, the chance of infection is minimal. Millions of people are bitten by animals every year, mainly by dogs. Cat bites are about twice as likely as dog bites to get infected. After being advised of the risk for infection, Mr. H agreed to follow up in three days or sooner if symptoms worsened. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. Conclusions: Cat bite injuries to the hand can progress to serious infection. of dog bites, middle-aged women were the most common victims of cat bites to the hand, according to the Mayo Clinic study. Close more info about Pain, tingling, and limited range of motion after a cat bite to the finger, Lori L. Henderson, DNP-c, MSN , APNP-BC, and Teri Kaul, PhD, APRN, Botched cryotherapy procedure leads to painful bullous lesion. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Carlsen said the study showed the hand and wrist are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, making outpatient antibiotic treatment hard. Joint spaces were preserved, and bony structures were in good alignment. Cats, like many other mammals, can carry rabies. A dogs powerful jaws and blunt teeth tend to leave a larger wound, but they dont penetrate as deeply. Dog and cat bites to the hand: treatment and cost assessment. But remember, if you are bitten, prompt medical care is required to prevent serious, even long-term complications from a cat bite infection. Last Updated on: January 25, 2023 by Crystal Uys. Common symptoms are localized bone pain and tenderness with constitutional symptoms (in acute read more . Instead, call the animal control office in your area. Cat bite: An unusual cause of foot drop. Source: The management of bite wounds in children--a retrospective analysis at a level I trauma centre. Which means there are very few white blood cells to fight the bacteria, and they have an easy time infecting your tendon cells. The treatment of such infections often requires hospitalization, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and operative treatment. The warm and dark inner layers of your skin are optimal for the growth of the bacteria. Read on to learn more about symptoms and how to prevent bug bites. Cats dont have more bacteria in their mouths than dogs. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. Epidemiology We write about feline health, nutrition, lifestyle, and so many other interesting topics! Another 154 were treated with oral antibiotics as outpatients, although 21 of them eventually had to be hospitalized. Cat bite victims sometimes must have their wounds surgically irrigated or even have infected tissue removed, a procedure called debridement. And while cuts. While all bites carry bacteria, your body manages to fend off most infections from dog bites. As your body works to fight the bacteria in the cat bite, you may develop a fever. How do you know if a cat bite is infected? By clicking Subscribe, I agree to the WebMD, Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Smoking Pot Every Day Linked to Heart Risks, Artificial Sweetener Linked to Heart Risks, FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test for COVID and Flu, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox. The information in this post is not a substitute for medical care. Cat bite; animal bite; infection. Discharge instructions and wound-care handouts were provided. Sources: Babovic N, Carlsen BT, Cayci C. Cat Bite Infections of the Hand: Assessment of Morbidity and Predictors of Severe Infection. This includes bites that: [8] Are on the face In the study, researchers identified 193 Mayo Clinic patients with cat bites to the hand from January 1, 2009, through 2011. It may be painful or tender when touched or pressed. . eCollection 2022. Wrist Tendonitis; DeQuervain's Tendonitis; Carpal Boss; Wrist Fractures; Distal Radius Fracture of the Wrist; Scaphoid Fractures of the wrist . (2016). There is no such thing as a simple cat bite, yet most patients are unaware of the potential for harm, and they delay or fail to seek immediate evaluation and treatment. The most common symptoms of infection from a cat bite include: redness or discoloration swelling inflammation warmth a bump or blister where the bite wound is located More serious symptoms of. Once symptoms are present, rabies is typically fatal. Keywords: Infections occur more frequently in cat bites because cats have extremely sharp, pointed teeth that can cause deep puncture wounds. Wrist tendinitis (tendonitis) is inflammation in the tendons that connect your lower arm to the bones in your fingers. [Hyatt, 2017] PFT is a clinical diagnosis!! If you have been bitten by a cat, seeyour doctor or visit anurgent care facility. If there is a lot of blood, apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Savu AN, Schoenbrunner AR, Politi R, Janis JE. "We don't play like we used to," Bothun said. Misunderstanding this risk has led to a worrying number of hospitalizations, as patients require surgery to clean wounds or remove tissue thats become infected. Polymer-Based Constructs for Flexor Tendon Repair: A Review. J Hand Surg Am. First, be sure to clean the wound. 8600 Rockville Pike This is a combination of a skin disorder (psoriasis) and . Wrist Tendonitis; DeQuervain's Tendonitis; Carpal Boss; Wrist Fractures; Distal Radius Fracture of the Wrist; Scaphoid Fractures of the wrist; Elbow. Bula-Rudas FJ, et al. You should not use this information in place of a consultation or the advice of your healthcare provider. Misunderstanding this risk has led to a worrying number of hospitalizations, as patients require surgery to clean wounds or remove tissue thats become infected. An infectious disease consultation was ordered. Infections of Deep Hand and Wrist Compartments. Clinical findings suggestive of the need for hospitalization include location of the bite over a joint or tendon sheath, erythema, pain, and swelling. Bliss 101 Registered User regular. Zoonotic disease: What can I catch from my cat? July 2012 edited July 2012. Dawn Bothun, of Minnesota said a bite on her hand turned into an eight-week hospital ordeal and $150,000 in medical bills. Cat bites can also lead to bone infection, and in extreme cases, septic shock, which is a life-threatening condition. No fevers, chills, increased redness, or swelling was noted. You should still clean the wound area with soap and water, but its unlikely you will have to take any action. The researchers studied nearly 200 cat bite cases that occurred between 2009 and 2011. Read more about types of bites, symptoms, and treatments. Tenosynovitis refers to inflammation of a tendon and its synovial sheath; this condition occurs most frequently in the hand and wrist but can occur in any part of the extremities where a tendon glides within a synovial-lined fibro-osseous sheath. Checking for Immediate Trauma. Hydrocodone (Vicodin) and naprosyn (Naproxen) were also prescribed for pain and inflammation. Small but deep punctures there led to a higher risk of hospitalization than bites into soft tissue, according to the study. 1. (2014). for two weeks. Epub 2019 Jul 9. With these locations, it's not hard for a cat to puncture a joint or the layer of membrane that covers a tendon. eCollection 2022 Jan-Mar. They are most often located on the upper extremities and are almost always accompanied by scratches [2-4]. Mr. H. was then sent for immediate orthopedic surgical evaluation. Lesions caused by human and domestic and wild animal bites. If the patient is allergic to penicillin, clindamycin 300 mg orally every 6 hours can be used. The oral flora of humans includes Eikenella corrodens, staphylococci, streptococci, and anaerobes. . The fear is that bacteria from the person's skin or from the cat's or dog's mouth gains access to a part of the body that is like a freeway for the bacteria to spread quickly the tendons. Of those, 57 were hospitalized; on average, they were in the hospital three days. Although cats have no more germs in their mouths than dogs or people, researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that when cats bite, their sharp teeth can inject hard-to-treat bacteria deeply into. Animal bites that dont break your skin, as well as scratches that just graze the surface of your skin, have a minimal risk of infection. Can Vitamin E protect against heart disease. Never try to separate cats who are fighting. In rare cases, these infections can be fatal. Although the diagnosis of infected bite wounds of the hand is clinical, x-rays should be taken to detect fracture or teeth or other foreign bodies that could be a nidus of continuing infection. Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir. When a cat bites, it may not seem like a big deal it can be cute when theyre playing but some cat bites can pose significant health risks. . All rights reserved. The condition can cause pain when you grip and lift objects or move your wrist or fingers. No drainage, fever, chills, shortness of breath, chest pain, or wheeze was reported. Patients with clenched fist injuries tend to wait hours or days after the wound occurs before seeking medical attention, which increases the severity of the infection. Use to remove results with certain terms Prescribing an antibiotic prophylactically has shown to reduce the rate of infection from cat bites. Check for signs such as bruising, punctured skin, bleeding, and objects stuck in the wound. Tenderness along the course of a tendon suggests spread to the tendon sheath. Painful and swollen lymph nodes for more than 2 or 3 weeks. Twenty cases of cat bites to the hand and wrist were retrospectively reviewed between 2014 and 2018. Bookshelf Learn about symptoms in cats and humans, and get facts on. Can antioxidants supercharge your brain power? The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). o [teenager OR adolescent ], , MD, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Am Fam Physician. more serious symptoms of an infection, such as fever or muscle weakness. Give them time to calm down before approaching them. The most common cause of human bites is a tooth-induced injury to the metacarpophalangeal joint as a result of a punch to the mouth (clenched fist injury). Anesthetic Management Using the Oxygen Reserve Index for Tracheal Resection and Tracheal End-to-E A Scoping Review of the Impact of COVID-19 on Kidney Transplant Patients in the United States, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine Research, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Department of Neurosurgery, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Contemporary Reviews in Neurology and Neurosurgery, DMIMS School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Simulation, Biodesign, & Innovation In Medical Education, The Florida Medical Student Research Publications, University of Florida-Jacksonville Neurosurgery, VCOM Clinical, Biomedical, and Educational Research, American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology, International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, International Pediatric Simulation Society, Medical Society of Delaware Academic Channel, Society for Healthcare & Research Development, Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy for Brain Tumors: Clinical Case Review, Clinical and Economic Benefits of Autologous Epidermal Grafting, Defining Health in the Era of Value-Based Care, Optimization Strategies for Organ Donation and Utilization, MR-Guided Radiation Therapy: Clinical Applications & Experiences, Multiple Brain Metastases: Exceptional Outcomes from Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Proton Therapy: Advanced Applications for the Most Challenging Cases, Radiation Therapy as a Modality to Create Abscopal Effects: Current and Future Practices, Clinical Applications and Benefits Using Closed-Incision Negative Pressure Therapy for Incision and Surrounding Soft Tissue Management, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation, NPWT with Instillation and Dwell: Clinical Results in Cleansing and Removal of Infectious Material with Novel Dressings. Diagnosis of Ligament and Tendon Conditions in Cats 2014 Feb;39(2):286-90. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2013.11.003. If the cat who bit you was not current on his rabies vaccination or was a stray with unknown vaccination status, you may need to undergo prophylactic treatment for rabies. Animal mouths contain a lot of bacteria which is why you want to wash it out with soap and water for around 5 minutes. Mean length of hospital stay was 3.4 days in Group A, and 9.2 days in Group B, (p < .01). o [ abdominal pain pediatric ] The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the POA Help "Present On Admission" is defined as present at the time the order for inpatient admission occurs conditions that develop during an outpatient encounter, including emergency department, observation, or outpatient surgery, are considered POA. The best way to know if youre dealing with bedbugs is to look for evidence of them in your home. The second digit of the right hand was mildly edematous with five nondraining puncture wounds noted: two puncture wounds located between the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and metacarpophalangeal joint of the second digit and three on the palmar aspect of the right hand.