Bite Wounds

An estimated 5 million human or animal bite wounds occur annually in the United States; dog bites account for approximately 90% of those wounds. The rate of infection after a bite varies but can be as high as 50% after a cat bite and 5% to 20% after a dog or human bite. Although postinjury rates of infection can be minimized through early administration of proper wound care, the bites of humans, wild animals, or nontraditional pets are potential sources of serious morbidity. Parents should teach children to avoid contact with wild animals and to secure garbage containers so that...