Rats are animals that usually have a terrible reputation. We tend to view these rodents as carriers of disease due to their frequent habitat in sewers and dirty areas of cities. The rat bite is more frequent in places with poor hygienic conditions or in old, abandoned, or dilapidated buildings. The severity of the edge will vary depending on the person’s vaccination history and whether the rat is a stray or a domestic rat. In this FastlyHealarticle, we give you some advice on what to do if you are bitten by a rat.
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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 two months of age can reproduce quickly, getting to have between 50 and 80 offspring a year. As a consequence, they spread very quickly, creating significant pests. In addition, these rodents are great climbers, they know how to swim, they move fast, and they are very elusive. Their teeth are very sharp and can gnaw from wood to plastic, so if you are bitten by a rat, they are most likely to cause bleeding. The rat coexists 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 they do not attack humans unless they feel threatened or cornered.
Diseases transmitted by rats
Most rat bites occur 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 taken into account that the bite of a domestic rat or a street rat will not be the same. Thus, the consequences of a rat bite may be different.
- Averill fever . It is an ailment caused by a bacterium called Streptobacillus moniliformis, more common in Australia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. The symptoms of this pathology are headache, muscle pain, and chills, which appear in the first period of 10 days, while a second period is characterized by a diffuse rash at the site of the bite. Also, the joints can become swollen, red, and painful.
- Sodoku. It is a disease caused by the Spirillum minus bacteria, more common in Japan. The bite has a skin rash and reddish or purple patches, and the person who the rat has bitten has a fever.
- Rabies . It is perhaps the best-known virus transmitted by mammals. It is sent by an acute viral infection of the central nervous system by infected secretions, such as saliva. Initially, symptoms are vomiting, fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, muscle contractions, cramps, and poor appetite. Later, when the person is in the phase in which his motor activity is excessive, he may feel the excitement, confusion, and delirium.
- Other diseases that rats can transmit can be spread through food or water contaminated with the excrement of this rodent.
What to do if a rat bites me
If we have been bitten by a rat, or you know someone who has suffered the bite of this rodent, we can take some steps as first aid.
- Disinfect the wound . The first thing to do after a rat bite is clean the damage. We can use soap and water together with a cloth to clean the affected area.
- Go to the doctor . The most advisable thing is to go to the doctor so that he can carry out a review. It is possible that in such a short time, no signs are detected beyond the bite. 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, the doctor may recommend a drug.
- Follow-up symptoms . It is essential to watch out for any symptoms in the days after the bite. Some infections can take a few days to show signs, so we must see a doctor immediately if we detect fever, headache, muscle aches, or other symptoms.
- We must go to a rat exterminator if the rat has bitten us at home since these animals reproduce quickly.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.