Bites, Animal and Human
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Basics
Description
- Animal bite rates vary by species: dogs (60–90%), cats (5–20%), rodents (2–3%), humans (2–3%), and (rarely) other animals, including snakes
- System(s) affected: potentially any
Pediatric Considerations
Young children are more likely to sustain bites and have bites that include the face, upper extremity, or trunk.
Epidemiology
- All ages, but children > adults
- Dog bites, male > female; cat bites, female > male
Incidence
- 3 to 6 million animal bites per year in the United States (1)
- Account for 1% of all injury-related ED visits
- 1–2% will require hospital admission, and 20 to 35 victims die from dog bite complications, annually.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- There are over 60 million pet dogs and 45 million pet cats in the United States.
- Dog bites are far more common than cat bites. Most dog bites are from a domestic pet known to the victim.
- Most (~90%) cat bites are provoked.
- Human bite wounds are typically incurred by striking another in the mouth with a clenched fist.
- Human bites also occur incidentally (e.g., paronychia due to nail biting, thumb sucking, or nonmalicious bites to the face, breasts, or genital areas).
- Animal bites can cause tears, punctures, scratches, avulsions, or crush injuries.
- Contamination by oral flora leads to infection.
- Dog bites are typically crush-type wounds. Cat bites are more often puncture-type wounds.
Risk Factors
- Older, male dogs are more likely to bite.
- Clenched-fist human bites are frequently associated with the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Patients presenting >8 hours following the bite are at greater risk of infection.
General Prevention
- Instruct children and adults about animal hazards.
- Enforce animal control laws.
- Educate pet owners.
-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please log in or purchase a subscription --
Basics
Description
- Animal bite rates vary by species: dogs (60–90%), cats (5–20%), rodents (2–3%), humans (2–3%), and (rarely) other animals, including snakes
- System(s) affected: potentially any
Pediatric Considerations
Young children are more likely to sustain bites and have bites that include the face, upper extremity, or trunk.
Epidemiology
- All ages, but children > adults
- Dog bites, male > female; cat bites, female > male
Incidence
- 3 to 6 million animal bites per year in the United States (1)
- Account for 1% of all injury-related ED visits
- 1–2% will require hospital admission, and 20 to 35 victims die from dog bite complications, annually.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- There are over 60 million pet dogs and 45 million pet cats in the United States.
- Dog bites are far more common than cat bites. Most dog bites are from a domestic pet known to the victim.
- Most (~90%) cat bites are provoked.
- Human bite wounds are typically incurred by striking another in the mouth with a clenched fist.
- Human bites also occur incidentally (e.g., paronychia due to nail biting, thumb sucking, or nonmalicious bites to the face, breasts, or genital areas).
- Animal bites can cause tears, punctures, scratches, avulsions, or crush injuries.
- Contamination by oral flora leads to infection.
- Dog bites are typically crush-type wounds. Cat bites are more often puncture-type wounds.
Risk Factors
- Older, male dogs are more likely to bite.
- Clenched-fist human bites are frequently associated with the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Patients presenting >8 hours following the bite are at greater risk of infection.
General Prevention
- Instruct children and adults about animal hazards.
- Enforce animal control laws.
- Educate pet owners.
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