Cat bite

Cat bites are usually considered minor injuries but can result in serious infection and cause rabies if inflicted by a rabid cat. Common symptoms include pain and swelling around the affected area. Sometimes, direct tissue damage from the cat bite can impair mobility or cause tenosynovitis or arthritis.{{Cite journal|last1=Jorup|first1=Christina|last2=Wretlind|first2=Bengt|last3=Settergren|first3=Bo|last4=Sandstedt|first4=Karin|last5=Ekblom|first5=Anna Gerber|last6=Cars|first6=Björn|last7=Farra|first7=Anna|last8=Westling|first8=Katarina|date=2006-12-01|title=Cat bite wound infections: A prospective clinical and microbiological study at three emergency wards in Stockholm, Sweden|url=https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(06)00005-3/abstract|journal=Journal of Infection|language=English|volume=53|issue=6|pages=403–407|doi=10.1016/j.jinf.2006.01.001|issn=0163-4453|pmid=16483663}} In these cases, surgical consultation is needed to assess severity. Some unusual complications, like deep-vein thrombosis,{{Cite journal|last1=G­arrama-Conzuelo|first1=F|last2=Gutierrez-Castillo|first2=A|date=2019-06-17|title=Cathrombosis: Deep Vein Thrombosis After a Cat Bite - A Case Report|journal=Cureus|volume=11|issue=6|pages=e4924|doi=10.7759/cureus.4924|doi-access=free|pmid=31423400|pmc=6692098}} subcutaneous emphysema{{Cite journal|last1=Wagner|first1=Brian K.|last2=Martone|first2=Jeffrey D.|last3=Conte|first3=Harry|last4=Hill|first4=Melissa|last5=Kusan|first5=Karuna|date=September 2006|title=Complications of a Cat Bite|journal=Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association|volume=96|issue=5|pages=455–457|doi=10.7547/0960455|pmid=16988179|issn=8750-7315}} and fetal tachycardia have been described. Some of the infections acquired from a cat bite can be acquired otherwise, like plague.{{cite journal|last1=Gage|first1=K. L.|last2=Dennis|first2=D. T.|last3=Orloski|first3=K. A.|last4=Ettestad|first4=P.|last5=Brown|first5=T. L.|last6=Reynolds|first6=P. J.|last7=Pape|first7=W. J.|last8=Fritz|first8=C. L.|last9=Carter|first9=L. G.|last10=Stein|first10=J. D.|title=Cases of Cat-Associated Human Plague in the Western US, 1977-1998|journal=Clinical Infectious Diseases|volume=30|issue=6|year=2000|pages=893–900|issn=1058-4838|doi=10.1086/313804|pmid=10852811|doi-access=free}}

File:Ancylostoma braziliense mouth parts CDC PHIL ID1375.jpg

{{See|Feline zoonosis}}

The resident flora in the mouth of the domestic cat includes Pasteurella, Staph, Bartonella, Globicatella[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/cat-bite-infection-nhs-treatment-b2389974.html UK man bitten by cat contracts previously unknown and ‘extensive’ bacterial infection] and Streptococcus species.{{cite web |last1 = Maniscalco |first1 =K | last2 = Edens |first2 =MA |title = Animal Bites | date = April 20, 2017 |accessdate = June 17, 2017 | publisher = National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine |pmid =28613602 | url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430852/}} Bites from cats develop infections more frequently than bites from dogs. The teeth of a cat are sharp, pointed and can cause deep wounds. After a cat bite, the skin usually closes rapidly over the bite and may trap microorganisms.{{cite web|url=http://www.assh.org/handcare/hand-arm-injuries/animal-bites-treatment|title=Animal Bites|publisher=American Society for Surgery of the Hand|date=2017|website=Handcare.org|accessdate=18 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728015622/http://www.assh.org/handcare/hand-arm-injuries/animal-bites-treatment|archive-date=28 July 2017|url-status=dead}}

The bite from a cat can infect a person with:

• Cat-scratch disease, caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae{{ cite web | url =https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/8989.htm | publisher = U.S. National Library of Medicine | accessdate = June 17, 2017 | date = September 10, 2015 | title = Cat scratch disease}}
• Cat-scratch disease is a bacterial disease that people may get after being bitten or scratched by a cat. About 40% of cats carry the bacteria at some time in their mouths, although kittens younger than one year of age are more likely to have it.{{cite journal|last1=Rijks|first1=J. M.|last2=Cito|first2=F.|last3=Cunningham|first3=A. A.|last4=Rantsios|first4=A.T.|last5=Giovannini|first5=A.|title=Disease Risk Assessments Involving Companion Animals: an Overview for 15 Selected Pathogens Taking a European Perspective|journal=Journal of Comparative Pathology|volume=155|issue=1|year=2016|pages=S75–S97|issn=0021-9975|doi=10.1016/j.jcpa.2015.08.003|pmid=26422413|doi-access=free}} Most cats with this infection show no signs of illness.
• Hookworm, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Ancylostoma braziliense, and Uncinaria stenocephala
• Capnocytophaga canimorsusJoanna Zajkowska, Monika Król, Daniel Falkowski, Norina Syed, Anna Kamieńska. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27837588 "Capnocytophaga canimorsus – An Underestimated Danger After Dog or Cat Bite – Review of the Literature"], Przegl Epidemiol. 2016;70(2):289-295. n.d.
• Pasteurellosis caused by the bacterial genus Pasteurella{{cite journal|last1=Lloret|first1=Albert|last2=Egberink|first2=Herman|last3=Addie|first3=Diane|last4=Belák|first4=Sándor|last5=Boucraut-Baralon|first5=Corine|last6=Frymus|first6=Tadeusz|last7=Gruffydd-Jones|first7=Tim|last8=Hartmann|first8=Katrin|last9=Hosie|first9=Margaret J|last10=Lutz|first10=Hans|last11=Marsilio|first11=Fulvio|last12=Möstl|first12=Karin|last13=Pennisi|first13=Maria Grazia|last14=Radford|first14=Alan D|last15=Thiry|first15=Etienne|last16=Truyen|first16=Uwe|last17=Horzinek|first17=Marian C|title=Pasteurella Multocida Infection in Cats|journal=Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery|volume=15|issue=7|year=2013|pages=570–572|issn=1098-612X|doi=10.1177/1098612X13489215|pmid=23813817|pmc=11148962 |hdl=2268/187998 |s2cid=10682140|hdl-access=free}}{{cite journal|last1=Chomel|first1=Bruno|title=Emerging and Re-Emerging Zoonoses of Dogs and Cats|journal=Animals|volume=4|issue=3|year=2014|pages=434–445|issn=2076-2615|doi=10.3390/ani4030434|pmid=26480316|pmc=4494318|doi-access=free}}
• Pasteurellosis is a bacterial disease associated with animal bites and scratches. Pasteurella spp is a normal bacterium that also lives in the mouths of healthy cats. The bacteria do not typically make cats sick; however, cats can develop abscesses or skin infections in places where they were scratched or bitten by another animal.

In people, pasteurellosis causes painful wound and skin infections. In severe cases, it can cause widespread infection and might even affect the nervous system.

• Rabies, a fatal neurologic disease in animals and people, is caused by a virus. Animals and people are most commonly infected through bites from rabid animals. Infected cats may have a variety of signs, but most often have sudden behavioral changes and progressive paralysis.https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/cats.html {{CDC}}

The diagnosis is aided by obtaining a history of the circumstances surrounding the bite. The time the bite was experienced, the location of the bite, and examination of the bite is noted. The person may have drainage from the site of the bite. They may also be febrile, and swelling around the wound may occur. Because the wound from the bite may heal too quickly over the punctures, it may need to be opened and explored. Hydrogen peroxide may be used at home to reopen the wound, with pressure being applied around the wound to drain any abscesses. For deep wounds, this process may need to be repeated. At a hospital, the patient may request that the site be anesthetized prior to exploration. Neurovascular status is assessed. Immune status may determine treatment as does the presence of transplanted tissue or organs, rheumatic disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and sickle cell disease. Swollen lymph nodes and red streaks radiating upward may be evident.

The diagnosis of a cat with rabies is usually evident by observing the cat. Cats with rabies may also appear restless, pant, and attack other animals, people, or objects. Animals with rabies typically die within a few days of appearing sick. Vaccination of the cat can prevent rabies being transmitted by the cat through a bite. If the cat is suspected of being infected with rabies, the person bitten will immediately begin treatment with rabies vaccine.

Cat bites can often be prevented by:

• avoiding cats
• instructing children not to tease cats or other pets{{Cite web | url=https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/animal-bites-sheet.html?WT.ac=p-ra | title=First Aid: Animal Bites (for Parents) - KidsHealth}}
• being cautious with unfamiliar cats
• approaching cats with care, even if they appear to be friendly
• avoiding rough play with cats and kittens.

Rough play is perceived as aggressive. This will lead to the cat being defensive when approached by people. Preventing cat bites includes not provoking the cat. If a cat is reactive, handle it with care, being careful not to trigger any fear or aggression responses. The cat may bite its handler or someone nearby in an effort to defend itself.

The first step in treatment includes washing and then irrigating the bite wound with water and isopropyl alcohol.{{cite web|title=Animal bites Fact sheet N°373|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs373/en/|work=World Health Organization|accessdate=June 17, 2017|date=February 2013}}https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/cats.html#what-to-do {{CDC}} Often, a tetanus shot is prescribed. If a cat that has bitten another cat or animal and appears to be ill, the cat would benefit from an assessment and possible treatment by a veterinarian. If the wound has a low risk of being infected, it is sometimes only sutured. A person who has been bitten by a cat with rabies will need specialized treatment. Resulting infections from cat bites can be prevented by immediately washing wounds with soap and warm water.

Seek medical attention if the cat has not been vaccinated against rabies. If a cat has bitten someone, and there is no evidence that the cat has been vaccinated against rabies, the person will be treated for rabies infection.

{{Globalize|date=December 2017}}

Over 400,000 cat bites are reported each year in the US, though the actual number of bites is much higher since many such bites are under-reported.{{cite web| publisher = American Academy of Pediatrics | accessdate = June 17, 2017 | date = 2017 | title = Prevent Bite Wounds | url = https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/prevention/Pages/Prevent-Bite-Wounds.aspx }} 40 million households in the United States have domestic cats.https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/pets/index.html {{CDC}} Data on the number of people bitten or scratched by cats is limited because most of these incidents are not reported; however, 20–80% of cat bites and scratches become infected. Cat-scratch disease or cat-scratch fever, an infection that causes fever and swollen lymph nodes, can develop from cat scratches even if they only break the surface of the skin. Based on reports of people treated for cat bites at hospitals, women are most likely to be victims of cat bites and scratches. Because of their smaller build, children are more likely to be bitten on their head, neck and face. Adults are more likely to bitten on the hands and arms. Those who are immunocompromised are more susceptible to infection from a cat bite.

Data show that cat bites are more common found in women than in men, and in older adults, particularly those over 75 years old. Cat bites are more frequent in the mornings, during spring and summer. The most commonly affected human body part are the arms. Attackers are usually stray females.

• Coyote attacks on humans
• Dog bite
• Rabies
• Wolf attacks on humans

{{Reflist}}

• [https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000734.htm Self care for animal bites]

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{{Animal bites and stings | state = collapsed}}

Category:Animal bites

Category:Cats

Category:Infectious diseases

Category:Parasites of cats

Category:Cat diseases

Category:Zoonoses

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