When to seek medical advice

If the bite has broken the skin, you should seek immediate medical attention after cleaning the wound. Don't delay seeking help until symptoms of infection appear. Minor bites can be treatedatyour GP surgery, or by staff atyour local walk-in centre or minor injuries unit . For particularly severe bites, visit your local accident and emergency (A&E) department . The healthcare professional treating you may: clean the wound and remove any damaged tissue prescribe a course of antibiotics to prevent infection recommend specific treatment to prevent infectionssuch as tetanus if you're felt to be at risk close the wound with stitches if the risk of infection is thought to be low high-risk wounds will usually be left open as this means they're easier to keep clean arrange blood tests to check for infection, or an X-ray to check for any damage to your bones and see if there's anything embedded in your wound, such as a tooth refer you for an assessment by a specialist if the bite penetrated a joint, or there's severe damage, such as damage to bones or nerves surgery may be needed in these cases if you're bitten by a person with hepatitis or HIV , there's a tiny chance of the infection spreading if the bite is contaminated with blood, so you may be offered treatment to stop you becoming infected When you return home, watch out forsigns of a possible infection.
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