Bite
1524906
217492932
2008-06-06T08:04:11Z
Fangusu
6496335
{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox_Disease
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Image =
| Caption =
| DiseasesDB =
| ICD10 = {{ICD10|T|14|1|t|08}}
| ICD9 = {{ICD9|E906.5}}
| ICDO =
| OMIM =
| MedlinePlus =
| eMedicineSubj =
| eMedicineTopic =
| MeshID = D001733
}}
{{Unreferenced|date=July 2007}}
A '''bite''' is a [[wound]] received from the [[mouth]] (and in particular, the [[teeth]]) of an [[animal]] or person. Animals may bite in self-defense, in an attempt to predate food, as well as part of normal interactions. Other bite attacks may be apparently unprovoked, especially in the case of bites committed by psychologically or emotionally disturbed humans. Some disorders such as [[Lesch-Nyhan syndrome]] may cause people to bite themselves.
Bite wounds raise a number of [[medical]] concerns for the [[physician]] or [[first aid]]er including:
*Generalized tissue damage due to tearing and scratching.
*Serious [[hemorrhage]] if major blood vessels are pierced.
*[[Infection]] by [[bacterium|bacteria]] or other [[pathogen]]s, including [[rabies]].
*Introduction of [[Venom (poison)|venom]] into the wound by venomous animals such as some [[snakes]].
*Introduction of other irritants into the wound, causing [[inflammation]] and [[itching]].
==Examples==
*[[Flea]] bites are responsible for the transmission of [[bubonic plague]].
*[[Mosquito]] bites are responsible for the transmission of [[malaria]].
*The bites of various animals such as bats, rabbits, wolves, raccoons, .etc may transmit [[rabies]].
==Treatment==
Bite wounds are washed, ideally with povidone-iodine soap and water. The injury is then loosely bandaged, but is not sutured due to risk of infection.
Animal bites inflicted by some animals, including [[carnivora]]ns and [[bat]]s, are considered possible cases of [[rabies]]. The animal is caught alive or dead with its head preserved, so the head can later be analyzed to detect the disease. Signs of rabies include foaming at the mouth, self-mutilation, growling, jerky behavior, and red eyes. If the animal lives for ten days and does not develop rabies, then it is probable that no infection has occurred.
If the animal cannot be captured, prophylactic rabies treatment is recommended in most places. Certain places, such as [[Hawaii]], [[Australia]] and the [[United Kingdom]], are known not to have native rabies. Treatment is generally available in [[North America]] and the [[Northern European]] states.
==Behavior==
Biting is an [[age appropriate]] [[behavior]] and reaction for children 2.5 years and younger. Conversely children above this age have verbal skills to explain their needs and dislikes and biting is not age appropriate. Biting may be prevented by methods including [[redirection]], changing the environment and responding to biting by talking about appropriate ways to express anger and frustration. School age children, those older than 2.5 years, who habitually bite may require professional help. <ref>Child Care Links, "[http://www.childcarelinks.org/fyi/fyi_pdf/HOW%20TO%20HANDLE%20BITING.pdf How to Handle Biting]", retrieved 14 August 2007</ref>
Biting is also a behavior found in many adult animals (including humans), often as part of sexual [[petting]]. Some discussion of human biting appears in [[Kinsey Reports#Biting|The Kinsey Report on Sexual Behavior in the Human Female]].
==See also==
*[[Snakebite]]
*[[Spider bite]]
*[[Wilderness first aid]]
*[[Insect bites and stings]]
*[[The Bite Fight]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1033.htm Treating human bites]
{{Injuries, other than fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains}}
[[Category:Veterinary medicine]]
[[Category:Injuries]]
[[cs:Pokousání]]
[[de:Biss]]
[[fr:Morsure]]
[[id:Luka gigitan]]
[[nl:Bijtwond]]
[[ja:動物咬傷]]
[[simple:Bite]]