Human bite by a human: first aid algorithm, symptoms and complications

According to statistics from dermatologists, human bites by humans occur much more often than attacks by domestic or street animals. It would seem that what’s terrible about an ordinary bite, especially if there is no rupture of the skin? However, a human bite is not just dangerous but, in some cases, fatal. There are a large number of microorganisms in the oral cavity that can provoke pathogenic and inflammatory reactions. Let's consider what to do if a bite occurs, what symptoms and signs will appear in the victim.

Bite of a person by a person: reasons

There can be many reasons for a person to bite a person, but they can be both intentional and accidental.

Intentional bites include those that are inflicted with the aim of causing pain, discomfort, or disorienting a person. Most often, this species is found in a fight or similar brawl.

If, during sparring in the ring, an opponent receives a blow directly to the oral cavity, an accidental bite may occur. Inertia, the opponent closes his jaws, and the opponent’s skin suffers. This type of bite is not dangerous, but all affected areas require serious treatment.

Another reason for bites is love games. Married couples, when making love, can cause mild pain to each other through a bite. In some cases, no marks remain on the skin, in others hematomas swell or a rupture appears.

Do bedbugs bite through clothes?

To understand whether a house bug can bite through clothing, you just need to know how its mouthparts work. The parasite makes a puncture in human skin with its proboscis, which is only 0.7 mm long.

Proboscis

Its small size does not allow it to reach the human epidermis through clothing. Moreover, the fabric has a denser structure than human skin and the insufficient elasticity of the proboscis prevents the bug from piercing the material.

When a bug lands on clothing, it tries to get under it or run for cover.

Symptoms

After a bite, the skin in the affected area is temporarily deformed, but after 30-40 minutes there is no trace left of it. Some bites can be accompanied by very aggressive symptoms:

• Increasing pain. It is a sure sign of infection as a result of a bite.
• Itching, burning. Human saliva contains many microbial agents that can trigger an allergic reaction.
• Swelling at the site of the bite. Occurs as a result of damage to soft tissues.
• Bruising, hematoma . Occurs if the bite provokes rupture of capillaries and other blood vessels.
• Fever. A direct sign of infection through human saliva.
• Pus. This is also a symptom of infection resulting from the bite.

Signs of a bite may vary from case to case. It all depends on the thickness of the skin, the microflora of the bitten person’s oral cavity, and the condition of the capillaries. The absence of symptoms is not a reason for peace; they may appear after 2-3 weeks.

Going to court

If the dog owner does not plead guilty, the victim can go to court.
This is advisable if a citizen demands compensation for physical or moral harm. If serious harm to health is caused, the plaintiff can write a statement after the initiation of a criminal case and until the judicial investigation is completed. In this case, the applicant is exempt from paying the state fee (Article 44 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation).

If a citizen suffered mild or moderate harm from a dog attack, he can also file a claim for damages. The application is submitted at the place of residence of the animal owner. If the petition concerns compensation for injury to health, then the plaintiff can send it to the court department at his residence or where the incident occurred (Articles 28, 29 of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Russian Federation). If the claim amount is less than RUB 50,000. it is reviewed by a magistrate. If the required compensation is higher, then the application must be submitted to the district court.

Attention! The state duty when filing a claim of a property nature depends on its value and is calculated in accordance with the norms specified in Art. 333.19 Tax Code of the Russian Federation.

The amount of damage will need to be confirmed by documents or testimony.

The following can be attached to the claim:

• results of medical examination;
• police certificate;
• checks and receipts spent on medicines and medical services;
• calculation of the amount of the claim.

Compensation for moral damage must be justified.

Types of bites

Human bites vary not only in danger, but also in the method of application:

• Bite on the back of the hand. If the affected area falls on a part that is rich in joints, there will be complications. When the skin ruptures, the infection can penetrate not only into the soft tissues, but also much deeper, which, in the worst case, will lead to gangrene.
• Finger bite. Most often found in street brawls. If the jaw is clenched too tightly, the phalanx of the finger may be damaged, which will certainly lead to ruptured joints or tendons and even a broken bone.
• Bite with loss of tissue. This is an extremely dangerous species. As a result of the loss of a large amount of skin, as well as part of the muscles, a full-scale infection occurs through the gaping wound. In addition, not all cosmetology establishments will be able to restore the skin on the affected area; as a result, it will result in a large scar.
• Penetrating bite. Tearing the skin may not be necessary, but bruising and hematoma will occur on the affected area. Part of the skin is missing, sometimes a piece of tooth gets stuck in the soft tissues.
• Infectious bites. Not all people properly monitor the condition of the oral cavity, as a result, an unimaginable number of pathogens accumulate there. When it enters the epidermis, the infection begins to spread quickly, rotting of soft tissues occurs, and the chance of developing gangrene increases.

Any bite, even a minor one, carries an invisible danger. If this happens, you must give yourself first aid.

Arbitrage practice

Judicial practice shows that the court is often on the side of the injured party.
In this case, the amount for damage caused may be lower than what the applicant requests. Thus, the Perm Regional Court made a decision in case No. 33-12655-2017 dated November 20, 2017, awarding compensation for moral damage in the amount of 20,000 rubles. to the owner of the animal because his dog bit a woman and her pet, causing minor harm to health.

The Nizhny Novgorod Regional Court, under No. 33-14054/2017, issued an appeal ruling on 011/21/2017 in favor of the plaintiff. A Rottweiler dog severely bit a child, as a result of which he required long-term treatment and suffered psychological harm. The court ordered the defendant to pay moral compensation in the amount of 150,000 rubles. and pay court costs.

First aid for a bite

If a bite occurs, it is important to follow the first aid algorithm:

1. Rinse the wound with warm water. There will definitely be a lot of saliva from the bitten person remaining on the surface of the skin, which is a potential source of infection. To minimize the risk of infection, you need to thoroughly wash the wound, but without using hygiene products.
2. Cold compress. If the bite is superficial, without penetration into the epidermis and rupture of soft tissues, it is enough to apply ice to the affected area. This will help calm agitated soft tissues and blood vessels.
3. Bandage (tourniquet). Used if the wound is open and there is heavy bleeding. A tourniquet should be applied 20-30 cm above the affected area and secured in such a way as to stop the bleeding, but not to disrupt the blood circulation. In other words, the bandage should be tight, but not too tight.
4. Antiseptic treatment. As soon as the blood has stopped flowing, you need to treat the torn edges of the wound with an antiseptic (not containing alcohol). Using hydrogen peroxide for these purposes is strictly prohibited, as it harms soft tissues.
5. Open the windows in the room and let in fresh air. If blood loss exceeds 300 ml, the person will feel weak, tired, and drowsy. To prevent this, you need to let in fresh air.

It is not recommended to use painkillers or other medications at the very beginning of first aid. If the situation worsens, emergency intervention will be required and the doctors will select and give the necessary medications.

If a piece of soft fabric has been torn out, it is advisable to save it. You need to put it in the freezer (after wrapping it in plastic) or place it in ice. If doctors manage to do it in time, the torn tissue can be returned to its place.

Favorite places for bed bug bites

When choosing a place to bite, bedbugs are guided by two factors: the accessibility of the victim and the part of the body where the human blood vessels are located closest to the surface of the skin. Therefore, children and women are bitten first, since they have a thinner layer of epidermis.

If a person sleeps in their underwear, bed bugs are less likely to try to get under them. It is much safer and faster to use exposed skin.

In the summer, people most often suffer from bed bug bites:

• arms and legs;
• stomach and back;
• neck;
• face;
• armpits;
• groin area and inner thighs.

Much depends on what position you sleep in.

In winter, there are fewer options to choose from, so bed bug bites are concentrated:

• on the face;
• on the neck;
• on the wrists;
• standing;
• on shoulders.

Complications

A human being bitten by a human can cause a number of complications:

• Decay of soft tissues. A serious problem that can be treated with antibiotics. In some cases, surgical intervention may be required.
• Gangrene. The worst possible complication. If the infection penetrates too deeply, the process of decomposition and destruction of not only soft tissues, but also joints and tendons will begin, which will lead to atrophy and further amputation of the limb. According to dermatologist statistics, about 2% of human bites end this way.
• Severe allergic reaction. Some people are allergic to saliva, or rather to the pathogens it contains. Direct contact of saliva with soft tissue can provoke a serious allergic reaction, including anaphylactic shock.

Complications will be individual, but they all have the same main feature: problems take a long time to resolve and cause a lot of discomfort and pain.

How do bedbugs bite?

The unique structure of the mouthparts allows bedbugs to feed without disturbing the victim. To get to the blood, they pierce the human skin with a special proboscis, which has two channels. Through a narrow one, insect saliva enters the injection site, which anesthetizes the wound and at the same time has an enzyme that does not allow the blood to quickly clot. Through a second, wider channel, the parasite absorbs food.

The amount of blood obtained from one puncture is not enough to completely saturate the insect, so it moves further along the blood vessel and makes several more bites. One bug leaves 3-5 wounds on the human body, which look like a kind of path.

Bug

During the night, one bug can suck up to 7 ml of blood, which will last it for 7-10 days. After this, the insect again looks for a food source. Bedbug larvae drink less blood, but are forced to feed more often. The underdevelopment of the oral apparatus does not allow them to anesthetize the bite, so it may be sensitive.

The bug's body is designed in such a way that it cannot drink spilled blood. A certain blood temperature and pressure under which it will enter the body is required.

Bedbug activity occurs late at night, since at this time a person is mostly asleep and does not interfere with saturation. During the day, bedbugs bite people only if they have had to starve for a long enough time, but this can hardly be called the normal way of life of parasites. This happens if the premises have been empty for 2-3 weeks.

Signs of skin breakdown

Skin rupture is a condition when the integrity of the skin is broken, causing heavy bleeding that cannot be stopped for a long time. Not all bites cause this phenomenon, but with strong compression of the jaw, the skin may not withstand it and tear.

The first sign will be severe swelling of the soft tissue in the affected area. Next - the formation of a hematoma and the onset of bleeding. If a lot of blood is lost, a hematoma will not form; in its place there will be a strong, almost black bruise.

Most often, when the skin ruptures, part of the soft tissue is lost. An open wound is one of the first signs of a misfortune.

What time do bedbugs bite?

Despite popular belief, bedbugs are not afraid of daylight. Evolutionary processes have made bedbugs nocturnal parasites, since at this time their food source lies dormant in bed and does not pose a risk to life. Having drunk blood, the parasite seeks shelter.

During the day, insects prefer to hide in hard-to-reach places. And although the vision of bedbugs is designed for the infrared spectrum, the feeling of hunger can force bedbugs to bite the victim even in the light. They will benefit from a sunny day and artificial lighting. Therefore, sleeping at night with the sconce on, in the hope of preventing parasites from leaving bites on the human body, is mostly pointless.

When to Seek Medical Help

Even if no aggressive symptoms follow after the bite, the person feels absolutely normal, you still need to seek medical help. This is because the attending physician must check whether a tetanus shot is required.

Next, check for the possibility of infection. Often, during attacks, a small piece of tooth gets stuck in the soft tissues, which acts as an infectious agent. Even with proper treatment, it can cause a number of problems.

A visit to the hospital is a mandatory measure, not only therapeutically, but also preventively. If you do not respond to a possible problem in a timely manner, very dangerous consequences can follow.

How long does it take for the bite to appear and how long does it last?

When choosing a food source, bed bugs prefer to bite children and women, since they have thin skin, which means it is much easier to get blood. The body's reactions to a bite are also more pronounced. After a couple of hours, inflammation appears in the form of a series of red spots in the shape of a chain and itching begins, which goes away within a few hours.

People with a pronounced sensitivity of the body to bedbug enzymes injected into a puncture may notice red rashes within an hour after the bite. Sometimes there may be no reaction to bites at all.

Treating the bite

If you do not scratch the wounds, then by the end of the first week the redness will disappear and the swelling will subside. And during the second week the puncture mark will heal. The process can be accelerated by using special ointments.

What to do if a child bites

Most often it is children who bite. A bite is quite common for a child.

In the first 5-7 months, the baby begins to cut teeth. During this period, the gums become very swollen, there is itching, there may be fever and other symptoms. Accordingly, in order to relieve discomfort, the baby begins to bite and put various objects into his mouth in order to chew them.

This is normal, but if the problem continues to progress even after the last tooth has come out, at this age stage this is a reason to think about it.

Some children bite their parents to express their emotions. Due to the lack of vocabulary, the baby shares impressions, fears or other emotions with adults in this way. This is also normal, but you should not let the habit become entrenched in a pattern of behavior.

I'll bite myself

Another fairly common situation is when a child bites himself. There are three reasons for this:

• Desire to avoid punishment

A guilty child bites himself so as not to be punished. Parents in such a situation usually get scared, get lost and forget about the offense. And the cunning one is happy. Show that you have seen through his trick, and the child will stop biting himself.

• Guilty plea

This is what children do when they consider themselves old enough and ready to be punished. With such children, a calm conversation is usually enough for him to stop “self-biting.”

• Inability to express anger

When angry with someone, children bite themselves because they cannot fight back the offenders and express their feelings, and the resentment is so great that they see only one way out - to hurt themselves. Explain that he has the right to emotions and their demonstration. Teach him to express emotions safely (see Algorithm of actions).

How to stop a child from biting

If bites occur at the teething stage, you can simply buy silicone rings that “massage” the gums. As soon as the last tooth comes out, the baby himself will lose interest in attacks.

Given that biting for a child is a way of expressing emotions, you need to act in a completely different way. Help your baby develop facial expressions and gestures so that he can communicate with his parents in this way.

But, if the problem is psychological in nature, it is best to consult a doctor. Incorrectly taken measures can significantly worsen the situation.

The hard lot of biting parents

What no parent wants is for their child to bite. A biting child is a real problem. And, above all, for loved ones.

But you need to start fighting this unpleasant habit with the realization that your child is not a sadist or a monster. Moreover, he is not even a unique person who needs to be studied by specialists. Children biting is a fairly common occurrence. Feel better? Then let's try to understand why children bite, and find out how to deal with biters correctly.

Prognosis after a human bite

Prediction directly depends on how, when and why the bite occurred. If it was an unintentional injury and appropriate first aid was provided, then there is nothing to fear. It is enough to see a doctor, if there is a possibility of a threat, get preventive vaccinations and that’s it.

It is very important to understand that not all bites are so safe. If the integrity of the skin is broken, a rupture occurs, blood flows, and with a high probability the infection has entered the victim’s body. Here you need to act for sure, without delay.

Through saliva, the victim can get HIV infection, tetanus, hepatitis B and C. All diseases are extremely dangerous, in most cases, if not properly treated, they can become fatal. The doctor can make a prognosis only after he has performed a full examination and received test results.

Civil liability

In Art.
1064 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation states that damage caused to a citizen or his property must be compensated by the person responsible for it. The legal act states that the obligation may be imposed even if the person did not cause the damage himself. Thus, the owner of a pet is responsible for the damage it causes, including to other people’s property. Art. 151 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation states that the victim can seek compensation for physical or moral suffering caused to him. It is awarded in monetary form in proportion to the damage suffered.

Victims are often faced with the question of where to turn if they are attacked by a dog. First of all, you will need to contact a medical organization to document your injuries and get the necessary help. With a certificate issued at a clinic or hospital, you must contact any police department. The statement must indicate the essence of the incident and the requirement to bring the dog owner to administrative responsibility.

Medical workers are required to independently report to the police about complaints from citizens who have suffered serious harm to their health.

The police are given a period of 30 days to consider the application (Law No. 59-FZ of 05/02/2006). If necessary, the time may be extended for another month, of which the applicant must be notified. A response to the results of consideration of the application is sent by e-mail or registered mail to the specified postal address.

You can file a complaint with the police through the department’s online resource.

To do this you need:

1. Go to the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
2. Go to the “For Citizens” section.
3. Select department.
4. Fill out the form, outlining the nature of the incident and the requirements.
5. Wait for a written response.

You can attach photos, videos, and documents in electronic form up to 5 MB in size to your appeal. An electronic application is considered within the same time frame as one sent in writing. The decision to consider the appeal is sent no later than 1 day after its issuance.

Why do you want to bite a person?

Have you ever had the desire, when you are communicating with someone you care about, to bite him? Most people have experienced this at least once in their lives. Scientists from different countries could not find the reasons for this phenomenon for decades. This mystery troubled the minds of many people until English scientists figured out the reason. So why do you want to bite a person?

We need to start with the fact that different people express feelings differently. Some cannot restrain themselves and literally rush into the arms of their loved one, while others, on the contrary, are very restrained and do not show their true intentions. This is explained by different amounts of happiness hormones: dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline, endorphins, oxytocin and vasopressin, which are released in the human body. Those who are more active in relationships have more of them, those who are passive have less. This difference has been a problem for many couples, often leading to divorce.

The methods of showing your affection are also different. For example, hug, kiss, just touch any part of the body. This is a completely ordinary manifestation of tenderness towards another. But what if, instead of tenderness, slightly unusual methods appear, such as the desire to bite a person? Doesn't this mean lack of feelings or perversion? Scientists from Yale University have found out the reason.

The fact is that our brain is very complex and confusing. Depending on many factors that influenced the person before the event, the reaction to it may be different. For example, when we win the lottery, we may cry with happiness, laugh, or want to hit someone. This is normal, this is just the variability of our consciousness. And, depending on the internal state, the action that we do in order to show emotions will also change. This is a characteristic sign of a person, because there are a very small number of creatures that show one reaction in different ways.

And now the main question: “Why do you want to bite a person? " This needs to be broken down into several subcategories in order to fully understand the essence. In total, a similar phenomenon manifests itself in relation to a person in two interpretations: between individuals of the opposite sex and from a mother to her child.

In the first case, everything is quite simple. We feel attracted to our loved one, trying with all our might to show them. Ordinary words seem like too little manifestation to us, so we use the language of “touch” described by Gary Champan in the book “The Five Love Languages.” Among others, this method is the most sensual and shows great affection. One of the forms of manifestation of “tactile” communication is bites. By doing this, we are trying to show all the emotions that are seething within us. But sometimes all this is so strong that you literally want to eat your other half completely. There is a theory why this happens. Psychoanalysts explain everything by saying that this is how a person tries to “merge in ecstasy” with his object of desire. In addition, we subconsciously choose the soul mate who personally smells most attractive to us. What do people do with something that smells delicious? That's right, let's eat. But the second theory is based on the inconsistency of the feelings that we experience. At the same time there is both love and hatred for the beloved. That is, we want to hug and touch as much as possible, because we love, and we want to destroy the object of desire, so as not to experience suffering due to the fact that we cannot fully connect, because we hate. It is because of this confrontation in our minds that thoughts arise to bite or swallow our neighbor.

In the second case, everything is much more complicated. Now this is connected not with human psychology, but with instincts and evolutionary processes. The fact is that mothers experience a certain feeling for their child, similar to hunger. That is, when they see their baby, their emotions are similar to what a hungry person feels when looking at delicious food. This has nothing to do with cannibalism, but a completely different phenomenon. The explanation for this phenomenon is very complex and confusing, involving many mechanisms of evolution that have helped us survive. Therefore, all you need to know: such a desire is quite normal, this is not a disease, but only natural processes in the body, during which enzymes necessary for the functioning of the body are released, which force it to act this way.

An interesting assumption on this topic is another theory of the origin of such a feeling. If we like a person for some character trait, we try to absorb it into ourselves like a sponge. Sometimes in a rather drastic way. Like the ancient people, who considered the lion to be a brave animal, and wanted to eat its heart to gain courage. And not only animal organs could end up on the dinner table. Some tribes of cannibal aborigines even had a tradition of eating the heart of the most worthy member of their family. No one refused this fate; it was considered the most worthy death. They themselves wanted this, since such an event was considered the highest manifestation of respect. They also believed that thanks to this the gods would notice them and take them into their personal retinue.

There is another theory worthy of attention. It is based on the fact that we are interested in finding out what is inside a person so dear to us, to consider everything in more detail. An example is the desire of children to disassemble, break or tear something, even a living one. This is done out of pure curiosity, there are no evil intentions, it’s just something I wanted to do. This is the case because people are quite inquisitive by nature.

From all of the above, it turns out that you shouldn’t be afraid to express your feelings for your loved one with a bite; this is quite natural. Even if you want to completely eat your loved one, you don’t need to avoid it. It’s better to show your love in this way than without any emotions at all. Although sometimes you need to restrain completely sadistic desires, such as beating a person, or worse.

The man who bites

“If a dog bites a person, it’s not a sensation. But if a person bites a dog...” This common journalistic anecdote apparently prompted the editors of one magazine to conduct an investigation into in what cases people bite and what comes of it. The result is a rather interesting collection of facts that can lead each of us to certain thoughts about human nature.

Forecast

The best way to ensure a good prognosis for human bites is proper treatment before wound infection can occur. Infected bites, especially closed wounds on the fist, or other bites on the hand, can cause ongoing danger and impair the normal functioning of the hand. Ear or nasal cartilage infections can be very difficult to treat. Fortunately, there are many powerful antibiotics available, so even infected human bites have a good prognosis once appropriate treatment is started.

All human bites that result in skin breakage require HIV risk assessment and administration of anti-tetanus serum.

Why do people bite?

This happens intentionally or accidentally. In deliberate cases, the person is aggressive and seeks to cause pain. Unintentional bites can occur in the ring or in a fight under any circumstances where the hand is struck in the mouth area. The one who is hit instinctively clenches his jaw. In this case, the risk will be minimal, since the integrity of the skin is usually preserved.

An unintentional bite can be part of a fit of passion, as happens during sexual pleasures. This is not always pleasant, as you can get carried away and not calculate the strength. Children often bite their parents, and this can also be dangerous. A bite wound of any origin requires urgent treatment. If left untreated, you may face consequences.