Bite by Rat, Is it Dangerous? Beware of Infection and Know the First Aid to Be Done

Illustration (Unsplash/Joshua J. Cotten)

YOGYAKARTA - In everyday life, when you are in the wild, cleaning a dirty place, or when you sleep, you may be bitten by a rat. Rats usually crawl into open areas such as hands or feet. As we know, rats are animals that carry various bacteria and germs that can cause infections. So, is a rat bite dangerous? Reported from Verywell Health, here is the discussion.

The Dangers of Rat Bites and the Risk of Infection

Rat bites usually appear as small puncture wounds or cuts. Rat bite wounds can be dangerous because they risk causing a bacterial infection called rat-bite fever.

Symptoms of infection generally appear within 3 to 10 days after the bite. Watch out for the following symptoms:

FeverRednessSwellingHeat around the woundPus dischargePain or swelling in the jointsRash on the palms and feet (usually appears 2-4 days after the fever starts)

Fever due to rat bites is not common. However, it is possible that the case is not always detected because the causative bacteria are difficult to diagnose. Fortunately, this disease can usually be treated well by antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.

There are two types of bacteria that cause rat-bite fever, namely Streptobacillus moniliformis or S. moniliformis and Spirillum minus or S. minus. The most common one found in Asia is Spirillum minus.

Symptoms of rat-bite fever due to Streptobacillus moniliformis usually appear 3 to 10 days after being bitten. Symptoms include:

Fever, headache, vomiting, pain in the back and joints, a rash on the palms and soles of the feet, usually accompanied by one or more swollen joints.

Meanwhile, the symptoms of rat-bite fever caused by the bacterium Spirillum minus usually appear between 1 to 3 weeks after being bitten by a rat. Symptoms include:

Fever, which can disappear and reappear. Irritation and possible open wounds (ulcers) on the bite marks Swelling of the lymph nodes Swelling around the bite area Purple or reddish rash

Without treatment, this Spirillum minus infection can be fatal because the infection can spread to the heart, brain, lungs, or other internal organs.

First Aid After Being Bitten by a Rat

If you are bitten by a tick, immediately take the following steps:

Stop the bleeding by pressing the wound with a clean gauze or tissue. Clean the wound with soap and warm water, make sure to clean the inside of the wound. Rinse all soap until clean so as not to cause irritation. Apply antibiotic ointment on the wound, then cover it with a clean and dry bandage. Remove the ring from the bitten finger, just in case the finger swells. If it is safe to do so, catch the mouse after biting so that health workers can check if the mouse is infected.

Even though you have treated the bite wound at home, make sure to consult a health worker. With proper treatment, rat bites can be overcome without causing serious effects.

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