Symptoms of infection following a bite

Animal and human bites can transmit infections. Symptoms usually begin within a few weeks of the bite injury and may include:

• Fever.
• Swollen lymph nodes.
• Muscle aches.
• Joint pain.
• Rash.
• Chills.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Extreme tiredness.

Animal bites

Animal bites carry the risk of diseases such as:

• Tularemia from wild rodents and rabbits.
• Rat-bite fever from rats.

Human bites

A human bite can transmit blood-borne diseases such as:

• Hepatitis B.
• Herpes simplex.
• Cytomegalovirus.
• Syphilis.
• Tuberculosis.

Prompt medical treatment can prevent serious complications.

Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated: August 28, 2006
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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