Animal Bites

Question 1

Do animal bites require tetanus booster?

Answer 1

Yes (5 years)

Question 2

Time duration for closing an animal bite on head or neck?

Answer 2

Up to 12 hours

Question 3

Time duration for closing an animal bite on trunk or extremities?

Answer 3

Up to 6 hours

Question 4

Bites to what body part are almost always left open?

Answer 4

Hands and feet

Question 5

What bacteria is implicated in fight bites?

Answer 5

Eikenella

Question 6

How do you treat rabies exposure?

Answer 6

1. You inject immunoglobulin around the site of inocculation ASAP
2. Active immunization at a different site

Question 7

How is snake venom typically absorbed?

Answer 7

Through lymphatics

Question 8

What are the two classes of poisonous snakes?

Answer 8

1. Crotalinae (pit vipers)

2. Elapidae (coral snakes)

Question 9

Local symptoms of snake bite?

Answer 9

1. Pain, swelling, blisters, bruising

2. Necrosis

Question 10

Systemic symptoms of snake bite?

Answer 10

1. Fasiculations
2. Hypotension
3. Severe coagulopathy

Question 11

Elapid envenomation usually causes what?

Answer 11

Only minor pain at bite site but severe neuromuscular weakness

Question 12

Should blood products be given to patients with severe coagulopathy secondary to snake bite?

Answer 12

It won’t correct the problem but if they are really bleeding badly, you can still give blood products

Question 13

Why should surgical debridement or fasciotomy not be done on a snake bite?

Answer 13

It can lead to extensive bleeding 2/2 coagulopathy