Treatments for Human Bites

Human bites might not get as much attention as animal bites, but they’re actually pretty common and can easily lead to infections. A human bite happens when teeth break the skin, allowing germs to enter. You can think of human bites as either penetrating or non-penetrating injuries. Non-penetrating bites are usually minor and don’t pose much risk for infection.

Even if a human bite looks small and harmless, it can still lead to serious infections that affect the skin, tendons, joints, and bones. If these infections don’t get treated quickly, they can escalate rapidly and lead to serious issues.

This blog will discuss the treatments for human bites.

Using First Aid

If someone bit you but the bite didn’t break your skin, you can perform first aid to treat the wound at home. Here’s how to perform first aid at home:

• Wash the skin area using water and soap. Let the water run over the wound for a minimum of five minutes. Just be gentle and don’t scrub, as that can cause bruising
• Once you’re done washing, gently pat your wound dry, then cover it using a sterile dressing to keep it free from bacteria
• If you notice any bruising, use a cold compress to help reduce it
• Avoid using butterfly bandages or tape to seal the wound, as they can trap bacteria inside
• Reach out to your doctor if you notice any worsening or new symptoms
• When a bite wound is bleeding heavily, don’t wash it. Instead, press firmly with a clean protective dressing while you get medical help

Treating the Human Bite Using Antibiotics  

You need antibiotic treatment for clenched-fist and infected injuries. If the clenched-fist injuries and human bites aren’t infected, and you are otherwise healthy, you won’t need antibiotics since the infection risk is low.

However, if the likelihood of infection is high, you should start presumptive therapy, especially if:

• It’s been more than eight hours since the injury, and the person hasn’t seen a doctor
• The bite is on your hand or near your joint or bone
• The bite is deep
• The wound has a puncture that can’t be cleaned out properly
• Your wound was stitched up
• You have a weakened immune system.

If your bite shows signs of an infection, your doctor may recommend extending the antibiotic treatment. The preferred antibiotic options often include combinations of antibiotics that work against Eikenella corrodens and those effective against anaerobic bacteria.

Wound Care

To start, you should stop the bleeding and clean the wound.

Infection is the primary concern after sustaining a human bite, so the treatment for wounds will focus on preventing or addressing any potential infection.

For Superficial Wounds

• Stop the bleeding by pressing a sterile gauze or clean cloth against the bitten area
• Avoid putting the bitten part inside your mouth, as this can introduce bacteria and lead to an infection
• Make sure to wash your wound thoroughly with water and soap, or, if available, sterile saline
• After cleaning, gently pat the area dry and apply a fresh bandage
• Take a good look at the area. If you can’t straighten or bend your fingers, or if you feel numbness, you might have damage to a bone, tendon, or nerve, so it’s important to get medical help right away
• Even if the bite looks harmless and small, you should still receive medical care if your skin is broken. The tooth might have gone deeper than you think, increasing the risk of infection
• When the skin isn’t broken, keep an eye on the bitten area and get medical attention once you notice any signs of infection

For Deep Wounds

• To stop the bleeding, apply a sterile gauze or clean cloth directly to the bite area
• Once the bleeding has stopped, wash your wound thoroughly with water and soap, or use sterile saline if available
• After washing, pat the area dry and use a clean bandage
• If the bleeding doesn’t stop, keep applying pressure and raise the injured body part

Treating Bites From People with HIV, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis B

If someone with one of the above viral infections bites you, there’s a slight chance you could get infected. The risk from a bite is much lower than from a dirty needle. If you’re concerned, consult your medical practitioner immediately. 

To protect yourself from HIV, you can take medication that fights the virus. 

For hepatitis B, you could get a shot to become immune.  Unfortunately, right now, there’s no way to receive a shot to become immune to hepatitis C. However, the chance of catching it from a bite is very low. If you think it might happen, your doctor can run blood tests to check if you’re developing it. If by any chance you do, you could start treatment early.

Treating Bites With Surgery

Many human bites can be treated right away, but you should see a surgeon if you have:

• A clenched fist injury with a broken bone, a dislocated joint, something stuck inside, or unusual issues with your tendons
• Complicated facial cuts
• Injuries to your hands or feet
• Deep cuts, especially if there’s major tearing or loss of a limb
• Wounds that affect blood flow or nerves

Getting Tetanus Shots

Are you up to date on your tetanus shots? If not, or if your bite is said to be” tetanus-prone” (like if there’s a broken bone underneath, dirt or manure in the wound, or if it needs surgery that can’t happen in several hours), you might need a tetanus booster or immunoglobulins.

To figure out if you’ll require a tetanus shot after being bitten, think about whether your wound came into contact with spit.

You should get a tetanus shot if:

• The bite was contaminated with spit, and it’s been over 5 to 10 years since your last shot
• You’re unsure if the bite was contaminated, and it’s been over five years since your last shot
• You don’t remember when you last received your tetanus shots
• You haven’t completed the first round of tetanus shots

If you think you need a tetanus shot, please call your medical provider to schedule an appointment. Some people might also need immunoglobulin for wounds at greater risk for tetanus, especially if they haven’t finished the primary vaccination rounds or aren’t sure.

Signs of Infected Human Bites

Infections can happen even with proper treatment. The following are signs of an infected bite:

Increasing Tenderness and Pain

While bites may initially hurt, the pain should gradually subside. If it starts to hurt excessively after some time, that’s often the initial sign of an infection. The additional pain typically accompanies increased tenderness when you touch the area. This typically starts one to two days after your bite, but more severe infections may show signs later.

Increased Redness

Some redness and bruising are normal immediately after a bite, but if the redness becomes increasingly severe after the initial hours, it could indicate an infection.

More Swelling

A bit of swelling is anticipated initially, peaking on the day you’re bitten. If the swelling continues to increase after that, it might signal an infection.

Fever

If someone develops a new fever after getting a bite, it’s something to pay attention to. It is not advisable to wait for a fever to confirm an infection, though. Infections from human bites often do not cause fever until your infection has already spread widely. An infection may be present even in the absence of a fever if the bite site feels extremely warm and tender.

Presence of Pus

Pus, which is yellow, usually appears late in the infection process. It’s important to differentiate this from clear fluid that might ooze when the skin gets scraped by another person’s teeth. That clear fluid isn’t a sign that you have an infection. If there’s any doubt, you should see a healthcare provider.

Red Streaks

If you notice thin red streaks leading from the wound toward the center of your body, it usually means there’s an infection. This condition, sometimes referred to as blood poisoning (medically known as lymphangitis), involves inflammation of your lymph vessels, which are part of the body’s defense system. If you notice signs of lymphangitis, it’s best to visit an emergency department or a doctor as soon as possible.

Swollen Glands

Swollen glands may be visible close to the bite as the body’s lymph nodes respond to help defend it. In the armpit or elbow of your affected hand, for example, you may notice swollen and sore glands if your hand is infected.

When to Visit the Doctor

You should see your doctor immediately if your bite wound is: 

• Bleeding 
• Painful 
• Swollen or red  
• Leaking pus 

Seek medical attention immediately if you notice signs of tendon or nerve damage, such as being unable to move the affected area or experiencing loss of sensation. If you see red lines around the wound, it could mean a severe infection. 

Your healthcare professional will first perform a physical examination and inquire about your medical history before treating a human bite wound. They’ll check where the wound is, how big it is, and how far the cut goes. If necessary, they might order X-rays to look for any bone damage. If the wound is bleeding, your provider may suggest getting a tetanus booster to help prevent bacterial infections. 

You might need antibiotics to keep the wound from getting infected. If your child has been bitten, please inform your provider if they are allergic to penicillin. 

If your provider thinks there’s damage to muscles, tendons, or nerves, they might refer you to another specialist or suggest surgery. 

Due to the possibility of contracting diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible if a human bite breaks your skin.

Tests Your Doctor Might Request After Sustaining a Human Bite

If you get bitten by a human, you might not need any tests most of the time. But in some cases, your doctor might want to do a few things:

Take Swabs

When your bite becomes infected, your doctor may need to determine the cause of the infection so they can prescribe the right antibiotic. They’ll use a swab, which resembles a long cotton bud, to collect a sample of pus from the wound and send it to the laboratory.

A Blood Test

If there’s a chance the individual who bit you has hepatitis C, hepatitis B, or HIV, your doctor might suggest a blood test. If you’re the one who bit someone, you might need to get tested too. They’ll usually do the blood test right after the injury, then again in six weeks, and once more after another six weeks. It takes some time for the test to show positive if you’ve been infected.

X-rays

If you have a bite on your hand, especially if it’s from a clenched fist, you might need an X-ray. This checks for any broken bones and makes sure there aren’t any tooth fragments in the wound. Young kids who get bitten on their heads may also need an X-ray since their skulls are softer and more prone to fractures.

Complications Caused By Human Bites

Human bites can lead to several complications. Infection occurs in roughly 9 to 50 out of at least 100 bites. Typically, this infection is caused by bacteria and can affect the skin around the bite, resulting in a condition known as cellulitis. Sometimes it can even spread to nearby tissues, including bones or tendons. Rarely, it can spread to the brain, heart, or cause a systemic infection.

Infections that can spread as a result of human bites include syphilis, tetanus, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and HIV. While HIV and hepatitis C are unlikely to be transmitted this way, it usually requires an infected person’s saliva to have blood for transmission to occur. Hepatitis B can spread through saliva, but it’s still less common than infections from needlestick injuries.

Additionally, bites can lead to deformity or disfigurement, especially if there’s a large scar or if your bones are affected. Certain body parts, like the nose or ear, don’t heal well when cut, which may result in deformities as they recover after a bite.

Types of Bites That Can Cause Serious Infection or Injury

The following are bites that can cause serious infections:

• Occlusal Bites

These are direct bites from human teeth. When you look at them, they typically appear as semicircular, bruised, or oval red spots. The skin might be intact or not.

• Clenched-Fist or Fight Bite Injuries

These happen when someone punches another person and their fist hits the other person’s teeth. The cuts are generally small (usually less than 15mm) and usually appear over the fourth and third knuckles or the joints of your dominant hand.

The most common bacteria linked to human bites, including clenched-fist injuries, include  Eikenella corrodens, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus species, and some anaerobic bacteria.

Who is More Likely To Have Complications?

Some conditions can make you more likely to face complications after a human bite. For instance:

• If you have a weak immune system, which might be due to taking certain medications, undergoing chemotherapy, or having conditions like AIDS
• If you’re older
• If you have diabetes

Certain types of bites are also at higher risk for infection, such as:

• Bites on the feet or hands
• Bites that have been stitched up
• Deep bites
• Face or head bites on babies
• Bites over joints

What Should You Watch For After a Human Bite? 

Wound infections are the most frequent problem after a bite. See your medical provider if the skin around the bite gets more tender, swollen, painful, or red in the days after the injury.

In rare cases, bacteria can enter the bloodstream through a bite, leading to serious infections such as sepsis. If you experience general unwellness, a high fever, chills, or other concerning symptoms within one week after the bite, consult a doctor.

Find a Dentist Near Me

A human bite may seem relatively harmless, but it can leave a serious infection if you do not treat it properly. Even a small bite can develop major complications if bacteria get into the wound. It's best to wash the area right away and notify a health-care professional of any unexplained pain, swelling, or redness.

At Lasting Impressions Dental Spa, we care about your health and wellness. If you are suffering from a human bite situation, we can provide the necessary treatment. Don’t ignore any warning signs. Call us today at 818-751-5100 to schedule your appointment or visit our clinic in Encino, California.