If you have suffered from a dog bite attack, you might initially focus on the wrong dangers. After all, many people know the risks of rabies. But not as many understand the true risk: that of bacterial infection.
Capnocytophaga infection is just one of many infections a bite victim may develop. But it has the potential to wreak havoc on your body and health.
Initial infection symptoms
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examine capnocyptophaga infections after dog bites. This infection has a quick onset, with symptoms often showing up within hours to several days after a bite. In rare cases, however, it may take up to a week for symptoms to show.
They often start near the bite itself. You may experience pain, redness and swelling around the bite. You may also notice liquid or pus draining from the bite wound.
Worsening signs of infection
As time goes on, you will experience other symptoms that may mirror signs of a cold or flu. You could feel soreness or aching in your joints and muscles. You may develop a fever or experience temperature fluctuations and sweats. You could also experience gastrointestinal distress, leading to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
If you continue to ignore or refuse to treat the infection, it may worsen to a critical point. Extreme infection can result in organ failure, heart attack or stroke. You may also develop gangrene or suffer from necrosis at the bite. Some even develop sepsis, a deadly blood infection that can kill a person in less than 72 hours.
Thus, you want to treat all infection seriously. Consider seeing a doctor right away if you show any of these signs, or after any bite attack to begin with.