Dog bites are typically painful in both the short and the long term. Understanding potential health complications is important if an individual gets a bite from a dog.
People need to know what could happen to their health so that they can get the right help.
Staphylococcus and Streptococcus
When a dog bites, bacteria from its mouth can get into the wound and cause a bacterial infection. The most common bacteria in these infections are Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. They can make the area around the bite red, swollen and painful. Sometimes, these bacteria can spread through the body and cause an infection called sepsis.
Pasteurella
A dog bite can introduce Pasteurella bacteria into the wound, leading to infection. Symptoms may include redness, swelling and pus at the site of the bite. In some cases, Pasteurella infection can lead to more severe complications such as joint infections or bone infections.
Capnocytophaga
Capnocytophaga is a type of bacteria that naturally lives in the mouths of dogs and cats. While rare, a dog bite can transmit Capnocytophaga bacteria to humans, leading to infection.
Symptoms of Capnocytophaga infection may include fever, headache, vomiting and muscle pain. In severe cases, this infection can lead to sepsis and organ failure.
Rabies
Rabies is a viral infection that affects the central nervous system. Rabies can infect a person through the saliva of an already-infected animal, including dogs. Symptoms of rabies in humans may include fever, headache, confusion and difficulty swallowing. Without prompt treatment, rabies is almost always deadly.
Dog bites can come out of nowhere. Those dealing with this serious personal injury may want to seek fair compensation.