How to treat a rat bite? - briefly
Clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water, apply an antiseptic, and obtain medical evaluation for infection risk and rabies prophylaxis. Ensure tetanus immunization is current and monitor for fever, redness, or swelling.
How to treat a rat bite? - in detail
Rat bites can introduce bacteria, viruses, and foreign material into the skin, creating a risk of infection and systemic disease. Prompt, systematic care reduces complications and promotes healing.
Immediate measures focus on halting bleeding and minimizing contamination. Apply direct pressure with a clean cloth for several minutes until bleeding stops. Elevate the affected limb to decrease swelling.
Thorough irrigation is essential. Use sterile saline or clean running water, flushing the wound for at least five minutes. Gently scrub the surrounding skin with mild soap, avoiding aggressive scrubbing that could damage tissue.
After cleaning, evaluate the wound’s characteristics:
- Depth (superficial, puncture, or through‑and‑through)
- Presence of devitalized tissue or foreign debris
- Signs of infection (redness, warmth, pus, increasing pain)
Based on assessment, administer prophylactic measures:
- Tetanus immunization: give a tetanus toxoid booster if vaccination status is uncertain or last dose exceeds ten years (five years for dirty wounds).
- Rabies consideration: initiate post‑exposure prophylaxis if the rat was wild, exhibited abnormal behavior, or the bite occurred in a region where rabies is endemic.
Antibiotic therapy should target common rat‑associated pathogens such as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Pasteurella, and Leptospira. Recommended regimens include:
- Amoxicillin‑clavulanate 875 mg/125 mg orally twice daily for five to seven days, or
- Doxycycline 100 mg orally twice daily for ten days if a sulfa allergy exists.
In cases of deep puncture wounds or suspected bone involvement, obtain imaging to rule out fractures or retained fragments. Surgical debridement may be required for necrotic tissue.
Schedule follow‑up within 48 hours to monitor healing and adjust treatment. Advise the patient to report worsening pain, expanding redness, fever, or drainage, as these may indicate evolving infection requiring further intervention.