Solutions & prevention
Medicines for Animal and human bites
Bites from animals or humans that break the skin can become infected and, abroad, carry a rabies risk — needing prompt cleaning and often medical assessment.
Education and reference only. This explains which medicines are used and why, in plain language — it deliberately contains no doses and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always discuss your own treatment with a qualified clinician, and check the BNF and the product labelling for prescribing detail.
Quick answer
What is Animal and human bites?
Bites from animals (such as dogs and cats) or humans that break the skin are common and, although many are minor, they carry a higher risk of infection than ordinary cuts, because the mouth contains many bacteria. Cat bites in particular often cause deep puncture wounds that can seal over and trap infection, and human bites (including "fight bites" over the knuckles) can also become seriously infected.
- How it is treated: First aid for a bite that breaks the skin is to clean it thoroughly as soon as possible — washing the wound under running water with soap for several minutes, which reduces the risk of infection (and is especially important for possible rabies exposure), then covering it with a clean dressing.
- Self-care: Clean any bite that breaks the skin thoroughly with running water and soap as soon as possible, and cover it.
- When to seek help: See a doctor or nurse for many bites — especially deep wounds, cat or human bites, bites to the hands, face or joints, or if you have weakened immunity — and for any signs of infection (spreading redness, pain, swelling, pus, fever).
What it is
Bites from animals (such as dogs and cats) or humans that break the skin are common and, although many are minor, they carry a higher risk of infection than ordinary cuts, because the mouth contains many bacteria. Cat bites in particular often cause deep puncture wounds that can seal over and trap infection, and human bites (including "fight bites" over the knuckles) can also become seriously infected. Signs of infection include increasing pain, redness, swelling, warmth, pus or discharge, and feeling unwell or feverish, usually developing over hours to a few days. Beyond infection, bites can cause tissue and nerve damage, and — very importantly for bites abroad — animal bites in countries where rabies occurs carry a risk of this deadly infection, needing urgent treatment. Tetanus is another consideration depending on the wound and vaccination status. Because of these risks, many bites that break the skin benefit from prompt cleaning and medical assessment.
How it is treated
First aid for a bite that breaks the skin is to clean it thoroughly as soon as possible — washing the wound under running water with soap for several minutes, which reduces the risk of infection (and is especially important for possible rabies exposure), then covering it with a clean dressing. Medical assessment is advisable for many bites, particularly deeper wounds, cat and human bites, bites to the hands, face or over joints, bites in people with weakened immunity, and any bite showing signs of infection — as antibiotics are often needed to prevent or treat infection, and the wound may need cleaning, closure decisions, or further care. A tetanus booster may be given depending on the wound and vaccination history. Crucially, any animal bite, scratch or lick on broken skin abroad (or a bat anywhere) should prompt urgent advice about rabies, as prompt treatment after exposure is highly effective but must be started early. The key messages are to clean bite wounds thoroughly and promptly, to seek assessment for higher-risk bites or signs of infection, and to act urgently on possible rabies exposure abroad.
For this condition, these medicines
Medicine classes used for Animal and human bites
Each links to a full, dose-free guide — what it is, how it works, who can and cannot use it, side effects, interactions and FAQs.
Beyond medication
Lifestyle and self-care
Clean any bite that breaks the skin thoroughly with running water and soap as soon as possible, and cover it. Seek medical assessment for deeper, hand, face, cat or human bites, or signs of infection. Abroad, seek urgent advice about rabies after any animal bite, scratch or lick.
When to get help
When to see a doctor
See a doctor or nurse for many bites — especially deep wounds, cat or human bites, bites to the hands, face or joints, or if you have weakened immunity — and for any signs of infection (spreading redness, pain, swelling, pus, fever). Seek urgent advice about rabies after any animal bite, scratch or lick abroad, and about tetanus depending on your vaccination status.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
Answers
Animal and human bites: frequently asked questions
Why are animal bites more likely to get infected?
Because the mouth contains many bacteria, bites that break the skin carry a higher infection risk than ordinary cuts. Cat bites (deep punctures) and human bites are especially prone to infection, so thorough cleaning and often medical assessment are important.
What should I do about a bite abroad?
Clean it thoroughly with running water and soap immediately, and seek urgent medical advice about rabies (and tetanus) — in countries where rabies occurs, prompt treatment after any bite, scratch or lick is highly effective but must be started early.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Animal and human bites
- NICE — Bites (human and animal) guidance
Related conditions
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