Rats are animals that generally have a bad reputation. We tend to see these rodents as carriers of disease due to their frequent habitat in sewers and dirty areas of cities. Rat bites are more frequent in places with poor hygienic conditions or in old, abandoned or poorly maintained buildings. The severity of the bite will vary depending on the person's vaccination history and, obviously, whether the rat is a stray or a domestic rat. In this ONsalus article we give you some advice about what to do if you are bitten by a rat
The rats
Rats are animals that have spread throughout the world over the years, so they are present in most countries. Being sexually active animals at 2 months of age, They can reproduce rapidly, having between 50 and 80 offspring per year. As a consequence, they spread very easily creating large pests. In addition, these rodents are great climbers, they know how to swim, they move quickly and they are very slippery. Their teeth are very sharp and can gnaw from wood to plastic, so in the event that a rat bites you, it will most likely cause bleeding. The rat lives with man, especially in some countries, where the inhabitants are used to seeing these rodents in their streets, homes and establishments. Therefore, a rat bite is not something strange and we must know what to do if a rat bites us. However, rats are not usually aggressive, and will not attack humans unless they feel threatened or cornered.
Diseases transmitted by rats
Most rat bites take place in countries where living with these rodents is more frequent due to poor hygienic conditions. Rats can transmit different diseases, although it must also be borne in mind that the bite of a domestic rat or a stray rat will not be the same. Thus, the consequences of a rat bite can be different.
- Hevrnill Fever It is a disease caused by a bacterium called Streptobacillus moniliformis, more common in Australia, Africa, Europe, North America and America from the south. The symptoms of this pathology are headache, muscle pain and chills, which occur in a first period of 10 days, while a second period is characterized by a diffuse rash at the site of the bite. Also, joints can become swollen, red, and painful.
- Sodoku. It is a disease caused by the bacterium Spirillum minus, which is most common in Japan. The bite develops a rash along with reddish or purple plaques, and the person bitten by the rat develops a fever.
- Rabies It is perhaps the best known virus transmitted by mammals. It is transmitted by an acute viral infection of the central nervous system by infected secretions, such as saliva. At first, the symptoms that occur are vomiting, fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, muscle contractions, cramps and lack of appetite. Later, when the person is in the phase in which their motor activity is excessive, they may feel excited, confused and delirious.
- Other diseases that rats can transmit can be spread through food or water contaminated with the droppings of this rodent.
What to do if a rat bites me
In the event that we have been bitten by a rat, or know someone who has been bitten by this rodent, we can take some steps as first aid.
- Disinfect the wound. The first thing to do after a rat bite is to clean the wound. We can use soap and water together with a cloth to clean the affected area.
- Go to the doctor It is best to go to the doctor so that he can carry out a check-up. It is possible that in such a short time no signs beyond the bite are detected. However, the doctor will be able to review the medical history of vaccination and make sure if there is a risk of any disease. Also, it is possible that the doctor recommends some drug.
- Symptom Tracking It is important to watch for any symptoms in the days following the bite. Some infections may take a few days to show signs, so if we detect a fever, headache, muscle aches, or other symptoms, we should see a doctor immediately.
- If the rat has bitten us at home, we should go to a rat exterminator, since these animals reproduce quickly.
This article is merely informative, at ONsalus.com we do not have the authority to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to go to a doctor in the event of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
