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First Aid & Emergencies

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Animal and Human Bites - Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

Note:

If bleeding is the main symptom, see how to stop bleeding .

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

Injury from a snake or lizard bite: Go to the topic Snake and Lizard Bites.


	Yes

Is your bite bleeding?


	Yes

Do you think a bite has damaged deep tissues?


	Yes

Do you have signs of decreased blood flow at or near the bite injury?


	Yes

Do you have any loss of function at or near the bite injury?


	Yes

Are you unable to remove an object from the wound?


	Yes

Do you have swelling or bruising at or near a bite injury?


	Yes

Do you think a bite was caused by abuse or neglect?


	Yes

Are you worried that you may not have been able to get a bite clean enough using home treatment?


	Yes

Do you have a bite that has a high risk for infection?


	Yes

Do you think you have an infection at the site of a bite?


	Yes

Do you have a bite that may need stitches, staples, or skin adhesives?


	Yes

Have you been bitten in the past few weeks and you now have symptoms of illness?


	Yes

Are you worried about getting rabies from your bite?


	Yes

Do you know or think you need a tetanus shot?


	Yes

Do you have moderate bleeding that has slowed but not stopped after applying steady, direct pressure for 15 minutes?


	Yes

Do you have mild bleeding that has slowed but not stopped after applying pressure 3 times for 15 minutes each (45 minutes total)?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Does a child have a dog or large animal bite to the head or face?


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have a bite on a leg and peripheral arterial disease?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have a dog bite to your hand, foot, head, or face?


	Yes

Do you have an animal bite to the head or face?


	Yes

Do you have a bite over or near a joint?


	Yes

Have you had a crushing bite injury from an animal with powerful jaws?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Is the skin below the bite pale and cold pale and cold to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have tingling, burning, numbness, or a "pins-and-needles" feeling below the bite injury?


	Yes

Do you have severe pain below a bite?


	Yes

Do you have decreased blood flow below a bite based on the pinch test?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you unable to move your limb normally (not because of pain) below the bite injury?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you unable to remove an object from a wound? Note: You may be unable to remove an object because:Of the location and depth of the wound.You are not sure about the depth of the wound.Removing the object will cause severe pain.


	Yes

Do you think an object is still in the wound and you are unable to remove it?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have severe swelling or bruising at or near a bite injury?


	Yes

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a wound over a joint?


	Yes

Did a lot of swelling and bruising develop within 30 minutes of the injury, and symptoms have not gone away?


	Yes

Did swelling develop after a bite to a joint area?


	Yes

Has swelling from a bite (not over a joint) become worse over the past 24 hours despite home treatment?


	Yes

Have you had a moderate amount of swelling from a bite for 2 to 3 days, but it does not interfere with your ability to function normally?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Did someone bite you on purpose?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you unable to clean a bite because it is too large or deep?


	Yes

Are you unable to clean a bite because cleaning causes too much pain?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have a cat bite?


	Yes

Do you have a human bite?


	Yes

Do you have a bite to your hand (more than a scratch)?


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have a bite on a leg and peripheral arterial disease?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have an animal bite on your foot?


	Yes

Do you have a bite over or near a joint?


	Yes

Do you have a crushing bite injury from an animal with powerful jaws?


	Yes

Do you have a bite from a wild animal, livestock animal, or exotic pet?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a bite over a joint?


	Yes

Do you have a bite over a joint and increased pain with movement of the joint?


	Yes

Do you have red streaks extending from a bite?


	Yes

Is a bite over a joint tender to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have any drainage of pus from a bite over a joint?


	Yes

Do you have a bite over a joint and think you have a fever?


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have a bite on a leg and peripheral arterial disease?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the bite?


	Yes

Is the area around your bite increasingly tender to the touch?


	Yes

Do you have pus in or around the bite?


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around a bite for 48 hours or longer?


	Yes

Have you had swollen lymph nodes near a bite for 2 weeks or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Do you have a bite more than deep and long that gapes open?


	Yes

Do you have a bite on the face, eyelids, lips, or another area that you are worried may scar?


	Yes

Do you have a deep bite injury over a joint, and underlying tissues can be seen?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have you had a bite in the past few weeks and you now have two or more of the following symptoms of an infectious disease? Symptoms may include:A fever.Swollen glands.Muscle aches.Joint pain.A rash.Chills.Nausea or vomiting.Extreme tiredness.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Have you been bitten by an animal that is either acting strangely or foaming at the mouth?


	Yes

Have you been bitten by an animal that attacked for no apparent reason?


	Yes

Have you been bitten by an animal that cannot be observed for disease?


	Yes

Did the bite occur while you were traveling in a foreign country or in the wilderness?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.


	Yes

Are you worried that the bite area has gotten dirty or has germs on it and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it.


	Yes

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?


	Yes

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: June 10, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.