Animal And Human Bites: Check Your Symptoms

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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.

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?

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

Last updated:	June 10, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer