Surviving Animal Bites

If you are attacked and bitten by a mammal, an insect or a snake. make sure you seek medical attention at the earliest in order to avoid serious damage or even a threat to your life

BENGALURU: The first thing to do after suffering from any animal bite is to rush to doctors without any delay. Avoid taking self medication in case of animal bites as  it could prove fatal.

Animals like dogs, cats, monkeys and others have bacteria in their mouths that can infect you if you're bitten. Therefore, one should always seek medical advice unless the wound is very minor.

Dr TS Ranganath, HOD Community Medicine, Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute, said that a bacterial infection is the most common complication of an animal bite. The saliva of mammals contains hundreds of millions of bacteria from many different species, many of which can cause an infection and sometimes these can be quite dangerous.

Signs that a bite has become infected include:

•  Redness and swelling around the wound.
•  The wound becoming more painful.
•  Fluid or pus leaking from the wound.
•  High temperature or flu-like symptoms which occur if the bacteria enters the bloodstream.

"In case of a dog, cat, monkey and other animal bite, the first procedure would be to clean the would with an antiseptic followed up by a tetanus injection and an anti-rabies shot. According to the World Health Organisation Guidelines, anti-rabies injections should be given four times to human patients," said Dr Ranganath. He also added that if the wound has affected the skin badly, cosmetic surgeons will address the issue in the next stage.

How to avoid being bitten by a dog

In order to avoid being bitten by dogs, a phenomenon that is fairly common in Bengaluru, you need to keep the following in your mind:

•  Do not tease dogs behind fences.
•  Do not go near chained dogs.
•  Do not run and scream if a dog gets free of his leash and comes up to you.
•  Stand still and be very quiet if a dog comes near.
•  Do not touch or play with a dog while it is eating.
•  Do not touch a dog while it is sleeping.
•  Do not go near the dog that that puppies as it will be aggressive.

Treating bee stings

For ordinary bee stings that do not cause an allergic reaction, home treatment is enough. Multiple stings or an allergic reaction, on the other hand, can be a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. "For minor stings, remove the stinger as soon as possible. Wash the area with soap and water. Apply cold compresses or ice followed by calamine lotion to ease any redness, itching or swelling. In case of severe reactions, anti-histamine and anti-adrenalin shots  are  given," says Dr Keerti.

For Snake bites

Experts say snakes will sometimes bite in self-defence if disturbed or provoked. Some snakes are venomous and can inject their venom (toxin) as they bite their victim. A bite from a venomous snake is a medical emergency as they can be deadly if not treated in time. Exotic snakes have been known to bite while being handled carelessly, or when they escape from their cages. There's also a risk of being bitten while travelling abroad to tropical countries.

 "When a person is bitten by a snake, the area should be tied with a cloth or thread and the victim should be rushed to hospital. The doctors will clean the wound, give an anti-toxin injection. Both Hematotoxin injections (for blood clots) and Neostigmine injections (for neuro-paralysis) should be given for bites from snakes living in land and water.  A cobra bite is combination of both," said Dr Keerthi.

Symptoms of snake bites

If an adder injects venom when it bites, it can cause serious symptoms including:

•  Pain, redness and swelling in the area of the bite
•  Nausea and vomiting, dizziness and fainting
•  Extensive swelling, blistering and, eventually, gangrene in the area of the bite
• Shock muscle paralysis (an inability to move one or more muscles of the body) leading to difficulties swallowing and breathing 
• Bleeding

What to do after a snake bite

Immediately after being bitten by a snake you should:

• Try to remember the shape, size and colour of the snake, explain the same to expert.
• Keep the part of your body that has been bitten as still as possible to prevent the venom spreading around your body.
• Remove jewellery and watches from the bitten limb because they could cut into your skin if the limb swells.
• Do not attempt to remove any clothing, such as trousers, but loosen clothing if possible.

Preventing snake bites

Follow the advice listed below if you are in an area where venomous snakes are found:

• Look out for warning notices
• Wear boots and long trousers
• Never pick up a snake, even if you think it's harmless or it appears dead
• Never put your hand in a hole or crevice, for example, between rocks – if you need to retrieve something, stand well back and use a stick to reach it
• If you find yourself very close to a snake, stand completely still – most snakes only strike at moving targets so if you remain calm and still, the snake will escape without harming you.