Animal Bites- Bite wounds can become infected with bacteria or
other organisms in the saliva or mouth of the biting animal. Bites
can cause everything from mild, local infections to generalized
serious and sometimes fatal illness. This can take place anywhere
there are vicious animals
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Symptoms of Animal Bites Possible symptoms include: Break or
major cuts in the skin with or without bleeding Bruising Crushing
injury Puncture-type Wound Certain diseases can also be spread
through bites from various animals. These diseases may cause
flu-like symptoms, headache, and fever.
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First Aid If the bite is not bleeding severely, wash the wound
thoroughly with mild soap and running water for 3 to 5 minutes.
Then, cover the bite with antibiotic ointment and a clean dressing.
If the bite is actively bleeding, apply direct pressure with a
clean, dry cloth until the bleeding stops. Raise the area of the
bite. Over the next 24 to 48 hours, watch the area of the bite for
signs of infection (increasing skin redness, swelling, and pain).
If the bite becomes infected, call the doctor or take the person to
an emergency medical center.
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Signs of Rabies The first symptoms of rabies may be very
similar to those of the flu including general weakness or
discomfort, fever, or headache. These symptoms may last for days.
There may be also discomfort or a prickling or itching sensation at
the site of bite, etc. The acute period of disease typically ends
after 2 to 10 days. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the
disease is nearly always fatal, and treatment is typically
supportive.
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How to Treat Rabies Disease prevention includes administration
of both passive antibody, through an injection of human immune
globulin and a round of injections with rabies vaccine.
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1. Crocodile (Nile): 5000 2. Alligator (American): 2125 3.
Hippopotamus: 1821 4. Gorilla (mountain) 1300 5. Hyena (spotted):
1100 6. Tiger: 1050 7. Alligator snapping turtle: 1004 8. Bear
(brown): 740 9. Jaguar: 700 10. Lion: 691 In 2012 these were the
top 10 animal Bites:
