arrange blood tests to check for infection, or an X-ray to check for any damage to your bones and see if there's anything embedded in your wound, such as a tooth. close the wound with stitches if the risk of infection is thought to be low – high-risk wounds will usually be left open as this means they're easier to keep clean. recommend specific treatment to prevent infections such as tetanus if you're felt to be at risk. prescribe a course of antibiotics to prevent infection. clean the wound and remove any damaged tissue. The healthcare professional treating you may: Minor bites can be treated at your GP surgery, or by staff at your local walk-in centre or minor injuries unit.įor particularly severe bites, visit your local A&E department. If the bite has broken the skin, you should seek immediate medical attention after cleaning the wound.ĭo not delay seeking help until symptoms of infection appear. It may be possible to surgically reattach the body part later on. If the bite has severed a body part like a finger or ear, wash it with tap water, wrap it in clean tissue, and store it in a plastic bag surrounded by ice so it can be transported to hospital. seek medical advice, unless the wound is very minor. take painkillers if you're in pain, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen – children under 16 years old should not take aspirin. dry the wound and cover it with a clean dressing or plaster. 
if the wound is bleeding heavily, put a clean pad or sterile dressing over it and apply pressure.encourage the wound to bleed slightly by gently squeezing it, unless it's already bleeding freely.
remove any objects from the bite, such as teeth, hair or dirt.clean the wound immediately by running warm tap water over it for a couple of minutes – it's a good idea to do this even if the skin does not appear to be broken.If you have been bitten by an animal or another person: There are separate pages on insect bites and snake bites. The following information is about bites by people and animals such as dogs and cats. Serious infections such as tetanus and rabies are extremely rare in the UK, but it's important to get serious bites looked at as treatment to prevent these infections may be recommended. These infections are rarely serious if treated quickly, but occasionally they can spread to the blood or other parts of the body. People and animals have a lot of bacteria in their mouths, which can cause an infection if a bite breaks the skin. Serious animal and human bites can get infected if they're not checked and treated quickly.Īlways seek medical advice if you have been bitten by an animal or person and the bite has broken the skin.
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