What happens if mice bites

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List of Partners vendors. Before we get into treating a rat bite, for prevention, remember that the best thing to do is to stay safe when a rat is near you. Don't approach a wild rat—generally, they are more afraid of you than you are of them—but don't count on it. If the rat is a pet and its owner is around, instruct him or her to secure the rat. Rats will bite or scratch if frightened or handled, so leave them alone. There are several steps that you can and should take:.

Rat bites often lead to infection. Always consult your healthcare provider after a rat bite. You may need a tetanus immunization or you may need stitches. Wounds on the face or hands are a special concern due to the risk of scarring or loss of function and should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider. If you do get bitten by a rat, the main concern is developing an infection.

One such infection is known as rat-bite fever RBF , which can be transmitted either through an infected rat's bite or scratch or by simply handling a rat with the disease. The two bacteria responsible for rat-bite fever are:.

The signs and symptoms of infection from each bacteria are slightly different. The good news is that rat-bite fever can be effectively treated with an antibiotic. If left untreated, though, rat-bite fever can be potentially fatal. Symptoms of rat-bite fever usually appear three to 10 days after the exposure or a bite but may occur up to three weeks later. In most cases, the actual bite or scratch wound is healed by the time the fever starts. Symptoms of spirillum RBF usually come on one to three weeks after being exposed to an infected rodent.

The symptoms associated with Haverhill fever another form of rat-bite fever that comes from ingesting contaminated food or fluids may include developing severe vomiting and a sore throat. Rats are not a major source of rabies infection —a common misconception. In fact, humans get rabies from bats more often than from any other animals. Raccoons are the species most likely to have rabies, followed by bats, skunks, and foxes. Rabies transmission from rodents to humans is extremely rare.

Rat-bite fever should always be treated by the healthcare provider in order to heal completely. If untreated, rat-bite fever can be serious. The healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotics for both types of fever, which usually include:.

Patients with severe forms of rat-bite fever that affect the heart could get high-dose penicillin and either streptomycin or gentamicin. Rat-bite fever is rare. In addition to RBF, contact with rodents can result in several other illnesses. The early symptoms of RBF can be similar to the symptoms of other medical conditions. Symptoms usually begin 3 to 10 days after contact with the bacteria, but can be delayed as long as 3 weeks. By this time, any rodent bite or scratch wound that caused the infection has usually healed.

Within 2 to 4 days after fever begins, a rash may appear on the hands and feet. This rash looks like flat, reddened areas with small bumps. One or more joints may then become swollen, red, or painful.