Rat Bites: Symptoms and Treatment

In one way or another, pest control issues related to rats that plague the USA can be effectively tackled with a good understanding of “rat bites”. This therefore ensures that your family’s health and safety are not compromised. Rat bites can be one of the causes of serious health complications if they are not handled properly. Hence it is necessary to know the symptoms and get the right treatment.

What Are Rat Bites?

Rat bites are caused by the rodents that are aggressive in nature and bite when feel threatened. The common injuries they inflict include punctures by sharp teeth or cuts by their claws. The bites primarily cause bleeding, swelling, and pain on the part of the body bitten. The rodents, generally, avoid human beings. Still there are some cases when they may decide to bite if they are being touched, surprised, or if they are protecting their territory.

Top 5 Symptoms of Rat-Bite

It is important to spot the symptoms of rat-bite to avoid any delay in medical care. The five most important warning signs are-

1. Physical Signs- The most evident rat-bite symptoms are the presence of puncture wounds, bleeding and swelling around the bite area. The injury may be just one puncture or many small ones.
2. Fever and Chills- Fever within 3-10 days after contracting the infection from the bite of rat. Chills and fever are the primary symptoms of rat bite issues.
3. Skin Rash Development- A rash usually appears 2-4 days after the fever and it commonly affects the hands and feet. This rash can be in the form of red or purple spots or bumps. This rash is undoubtedly one of the most explicit symptoms of the rat-bite fever.
4. Joint and Muscle Pain- Many individuals report joint pain, swelling, and muscle aches. The intensity of these symptoms can be very high. Hence, the patient might feel pain in more than one joint in the body.
5. Nausea and vomiting- These are usually accompanied by headaches. Also, fever is common. These signs alone can make it very difficult to carry out daily activities.

Rat Bite Treatment

1. Rat bite should be treated immediately to prevent the occurrence of severe complications.
2. The first thing to do is to wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
3. Use something clean to apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding and clean the area with a suitable antiseptic solution.
4. Even the seemingly insignificant bites require medical evaluation. In most cases, medical practitioners incorporate the use of antibiotics in their treatment regimen of rat bite to ensure that the infection does not occur.
5. It is highly important to observe the wound periodically to make sure that no infection occurs. The symptoms of infection can be, e.g., the wound is more red, warm, or drains pus.
6. Keep taking tetanus shots every 5 years.
7. It is also important to keep a check on the wound. It ensures that no signs of infection such as redness and puss get unnoticed. This will help you take faster decisions.

Understanding Rat Bite Fever

Rat bite fever is a bacterial infection that can go as far as causing complications and even lead to death. This might occur without treatment. Just 10% of individuals who have got rat bites get rat bite fever. The bacteria that are naturally found in the mouth and respiratory tract of a rat cause rat bite fever.

Rat bite fever is a strange disease in the United States, which is primarily caused by a bacterium called Streptobacillus moniliformis, and the other rat bite fever caused by Spirillum minus is more common in Asia. This disease is capable of claiming a life when left untreated, it is revealed that death rates may reach up to 10-15 percent without treatment.

Prevention Strategies

Elimination of rodents by the use of traps and poisons and by avoiding direct contact with rodents are the most effective ways of preventing rodent bites. Do not try to catch a wild rat under any circumstance. While dealing with pet rodents, maintain good hygiene. Use professional pest control services to solve the rat problem at home in a safe and reliable manner.

Conclusion

If a rat bites, then immediate first aid and professional medical evaluation ensure the best outcome. SayNoPest, a reliable partner in providing a safe and rodent-free environment for your family, can be reached for complete pest control services and expert tips on how to avoid rat bites.