These are potentially deadly diseases in humans. Why Do Animals Bite? If people have a Capnocytophaga infection from a dog bite, they may have the following symptoms: - blistering around the wound. Separation anxiety, especially when separated from parents. Staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria cause staph and strep infections.
With offices in Libertyville, Waukegan, Richmond, and Chicago, we represent clients in Lake County, Cook County, DuPage County, and McHenry County. If you observe any difference, record the details and bring this information to the doctor. Studies have shown PTSD at a young age may cause neurological damage. In that interview, information was obtained pertaining to: bite incident specifics, further medical/psychological care needed related to the dog bite, contact with additional legal or enforcement agencies, changes in the child's behavior, changes in the parental concerns about themselves and their children after the dog bite, and parent feedback on the value of having additional services available. "My calling is to protect and vindicate the rights of the injured. " Tetanus is a serious infection. Scarring and disfigurement - Even after healing, deep bite wounds can leave visible scarring that permanently alters the victim's appearance. The type of first aid you administer will be determined by the severity of the bite.
Every year, more than 29 million people worldwide receive PEP. Data availability statement. Out of 1616 dog bites, the three most prevalent were found to be Pit Bulls (also identified as Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or Bull Terrier, 38. 7–10 The significant risk of children being bitten by a dog paired with the increasing prevalence of US households owning dogs demonstrates the necessity for solutions to this public health problem and may require more robust efforts be put toward education and prevention.
If you suffer from ongoing complications related to a dog bite injury, you may be entitled to substantial compensation from the dog's owner. Victims may require stitches, skin grafts, plastic surgery or surgeries to try to minimize the amount of scarring and disfigurement from the dog attack. Some of the most common injuries in the aftermath of an animal attack may require stitches to repair. Drainage, such as pus. You may need oral or intravenous antibiotics. Depending on the part of the body involved, animal bites can also cause significant soft-tissue damage. The team at De Castroverde Law can help assess your situation and outline potential actions. When a dog bites a child, these are some of the most common injuries. The actual number of bites could be much higher since many are minor or just simply are not reported. A deep wound and have not had their tetanus shot within the last. If the wound gets worse, you feel pain, or develop a fever, see a doctor immediately. The site where the nerve is injured also influences how successful surgery will be in restoring function. If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact our office. Data compilation and generation of graphs were done using Microsoft Excel, V. 2010.
Additional information regarding animal bite infections in children is out there, and we encourage you to do your own research. Attorney John Fowler. This causes immediate and rising anxiety which could produce panic attacks, trembling and nausea. Two-thirds also felt it was safe to leave a 4-year-old child unattended with a dog, and most did not realize the increased prevalence of dog bites among children in general. However, treatment should be started as soon as possible following an injury because the longer a person waits, the more nerve damage occurs. As a result of such injuries, people may suffer mobility issues, require amputation, or sustain full or partial paralysis.
A dog bite can cause extensive tissue damage to muscles, tendons, bones, and nerves. 9 In 40 dog bite attacks, the most common breeds (n=15) were German Shepherd and German Shepherd mix, and the dogs involved in fatal attacks were two Rottweilers, one Husky, and one Akita. Certain infections from dog bites can be very serious and lead to complications. These injuries not only cause physical harm but can lead to long-term psychological stress. Getting bitten by a dog or other animal is jarring, both physically and emotionally. Long-Term Risks of Dog Bites. Moreover, dog vaccination reduces the need for PEP. Symptoms of this type of nerve damage include tingling, numbness, or pain in one or both legs and feet.
For parents with at-risk children, it's essential to know everything possible about dog bites in children and the lasting implications they can have. Whether through infection or deep wounds, dog bites commonly crush bones, damage nerves, rupture blood vessels, and tear tendons. This injury can lead to symptoms such as: Another type of nerve damage that can result from a dog attack is sciatica. Seven studies specifically investigated and identified dog breeds as part of their analyses. Swollen lymph nodes. Among our review of current literature, 36 articles focused on dog bite characterization, 5 focused on education, 1 on a combination of dog bite characterization and education, 1 on effects of dog bites on the victim, and 1 on psychosocial aspects (figure 2). While dog bite injuries can be mild, they often result in severe damage to the victim's skin tissue and underlying muscle or bone structure. After initial procedures to help victims recover, there may be lasting consequences for years to come, the following are some examples. Conclusion Studies analyzing the prevention or psychosocial consequences of dog bites injuries are needed. DLN contributed to conceptualization, data curation, visualization, writing (review and editing).
Articles were included based on the following criteria: being a US-based original research study, printed in English, readily available in full text, and having a study population size >20 (n>20). Dog Bites The Unfortunate Aftermath of a Dog Bite. If the person is at risk of developing an infection from a dog bite, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. Tender to the touch. Psychological counseling. Results Out of 1859 abstracts screened, 43 studies involving 86 880 patients were included. In up to 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for rabies virus transmission to humans. Of those, 20 percent must receive medical attention. PTSD from a dog attack can affect both the victim and any bystanders who witnessed the incident – especially those who had personal relationships with the victim.
One of the worst nerve damage injuries is neurotmesis. Very effective vaccines are available to immunize people after an exposure (as PEP) or before an exposure to rabies. The situation does not develop immediately after the bite. As clinicians, we must identify how to safely introduce these victims back into a life where dogs exist in order to return them to a functional daily existence. Once the dog pierces the flesh of the person, bacteria can enter their body thus causing an infection that can result in tetanus, rabies, or sepsis.
In the Americas, hematophagous bats are now the major source of human rabies deaths as dog-mediated transmission has been largely interrupted in this region. Also avoid roughhousing or playing aggressively with dogs, including those you know. Regardless of the nature of the injury, it can require extensive rehabilitation. 4%), followed by Rottweilers (12. Brain scans showed that children with PTSD had less electrical activity in the hippocampus, affecting fundamental processes of nervous system development. Going to a hospital can help prevent these types of long-term complications with adequate treatments. 5 million Americans are bitten by dogs every year, with approximately 800, 000 of these victims seeking medical attention. Map disclaimer The depiction of boundaries on this map does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of BMJ (or any member of its group) concerning the legal status of any country, territory, jurisduction or area or of its authorities. They can hold the wound under running water or use soap and water to wash it thoroughly before covering the wound with a bandage to keep it clean.