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What does a capnocytophaga infection look like?

On Behalf of | Dec 21, 2022 | Animal Bites & Attacks

After suffering from a dog bite, your first concerns may revolve around rabies or the possibility of scarring.

However, there is another immediate concern that you should give your attention to: the possibility of infection.

Early infection

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention take a look at capnocytophaga infections and how they impact people.

Capnocytophaga is a bacteria commonly found in the mouths of dogs. These bacterial may end up in your skin or bloodstream after suffering from a bite attack, with the teeth of the dog acting as an injection point.

If the wound does not get cleaned and treated immediately by a medical professional, infection can take hold within hours or days.

First signs of infection include tenderness and redness around the bite wound. The wound may swell up or begin to look streaky or blotchy and may feel hot to the touch. Eventually, the wound may weep pus or blood.

Moderate to severe infection

If left untreated, infections may continue to grow. The infection can cause symptoms similar to a flu, and you may suffer from shivers, fever, muscle and joint pain, sweating, trouble sleeping, bowel problems, nausea and more.

In some cases, infections may even threaten your life. An infection could develop into gangrene or sepsis. Gangrene causes your tissue to necrotize and die off, which may lead to amputations. Sepsis is a blood infection that can become fatal within 72 hours of symptoms first appearing.

In order to avoid these issues, it is best to get medical treatment quickly from the start.

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