Animal and Human Bites
When To See a Doctor
You have answered Yes to:
Do you think you have an infection at the site of a bite?
See significance of signs of an infection if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around a bite over a joint?
Yes Do you have a bite over a joint and increased pain with movement of the joint?
Yes Do you have red streaks extending from a bite over a joint?
Yes Is a bite over a joint tender to the touch?
Yes Do you have any drainage of pus from a bite over a joint?
Yes Do you have a bite over a joint and think you have a fever?
Yes Do you have diabetes?
Yes Do you have peripheral arterial disease?
Yes Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Do you have increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the bite?
Yes Is the area around your bite increasingly tender to the touch?
Yes Do you have red streaks extending from the bite?
Yes Do you have pus in or around the bite?
Yes Do you think you have a fever?
You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than 1 in. (2.5 cm) around a bite for 48 hours or longer?
Yes Have you had swollen lymph nodes near a bite for 2 weeks or longer?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: June 30, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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