Yesterday the neighbor’s dog bit me. I only saw two small holes and thought: that doesn’t need to be stitched. But now it’s going to hurt more and more. Do I still have to go to the doctor? I am a woman of 67 years.
Female (67)
Joris Bartstra, journalist with medical diploma
It looks like the wound is infected. The annoying thing about bite wounds is that often only a small hole can be seen, while the tissue around it is, as it were, crushed. The supply and drainage of blood is damaged as a result, which means that a possible infection cannot be combated properly. Bacteria then have free rein. A bite wound, whether from an animal or human, is always dirty: animal pelvises and human mouths are full of bacteria. If you’re even in doubt about the seriousness of a bite wound, it’s best to take it to your doctor or emergency room. Stitching is not necessary and not even allowed, because then you trap the bacteria, but it is often wise to take antibiotics, especially if the bite is near a joint. If your last tetanus shot was more than ten years ago, you should also receive it.
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