Rat bite (ME!)

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Should I be doing anything? Bloody yard cat - yet again - was enjoying torturing a poor rodent to death and at first glance I thought a big vole. It was still alive and my usual course of action is to carefully cup a hand over the rodent, pick it up and gently lob it into the brambles where it can either die in peace or recover and scuttle away. As I bent to rescue this rodent, my brain registered that the proportions were wrong for a vole, the head was too big for the body, as in a young animal. In the split second before I closed my hand round the rodent I realised it was a young rat. Too late, I'd picked it up and it had enough energy to bite me on the tip of one finger. I dropped it pdq onto the concrete - as if it wasn't hurt enough - then picked it up by its tail and lobbed it into the brambles. I checked my finger but couldn't see any blood. It did dawn on me that it might need attention but there really was nothing to see. It's now 5 - 7 days later and with no warning at all the tip of my bitten finger has started to hurt like stink. Feels as though there is a needle buried under the skin so that the lightest touch makes me jump. I can just make out the 2 hyphen-sized bite marks. Not feverish, no rash on hands or feet. Up to date with tetanus. No cravings for cheese, ha ha. Can't see the point of going to GP. Anything sensible I should do???

 

[cally6008]

Go to GP just to be on safe side

 

[somethingorother]

You are obviously a bit worried about it so just go to your GP to make sure. We can't diagnose you! lol

 

[katherinef]

Hi. A & E or doctor's at the very least due to risk of contracting Weils Disease also known as leptosporisis (sp) I think its common for the symptoms to start appearing about 7 days from injury and also rats are known carriers. Seriously would go and get it checked out.

 

[lhotse]

I would definitely get it looked at, you might need a course of antibiotics to be on the safe side. Rats carry some nasty things.

 

[WelshMisfit]

Would definitely be paying a visit to the doctor. Weils disease is a killer, not something you should be taking with a pinch of salt. It's got to be worth a phone call, if only to set your mind at rest.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I thought Weill's was caused by rat urine in water? If I'm still alive Monday and symptoms still the same or worse, will ring GP. I just wondered if anyone else had ever been bitten by a yard rat and could let me know if it was a huge non-event or something that needed antibx? Thanks all x

 

[PucciNPoni]

Don't know much about rat bites, but wouldn't mess around NOT getting checked when it comes to *any* animal bite. Cat bites can be really nasty, and for dog bites I would certainly think "Is my tetanus up to date?!" so certainly would think along the same lines for wild rodents. Get it checked....

 

[Angua2]

um..... get thee to a doctor, as you could have the start of rat bite fever, which if left untreated, can lead to complications such as fever and joint problems

 

[Booboos]

You MUST go see a doctor asap. Rats carry a variety of diseases that can be transmitted through bites (not lepto though, you are right lepto is caught if you ingest wet urine, or if wet urine comes into direct contact with an open wound). Unlikely in the UK but rats may carry rabbies so your doctor may want to put you on a prophylactic anti-rabbies course.

 

[MagicMelon]

Go if you're concerned. Personally I would forget about it since it didnt draw blood. I've been bitten before but they were pet rats so not as dirty as wild ones!

 

[unicornleather]

Go and see you Doctor.
I have had a rat bite me right through my eyelid before now, THAT DID BLEED AND HURT, luckily it missed my eye!
Oz

 

[MrsHutt]

Go and see you Doctor.
I have had a rat bite me right through my eyelid before now, THAT DID BLEED AND HURT, luckily it missed my eye!
Oz

I was going to say 'get thee to the doctor' too

I think, better safe than sorry - rats carry all sorts of horrid things, and anyway there are lots of lovely germs about at the yard!

 

[Sandylou]

You could ring NHS direct. They'll tell you whether you need to see your GP or not x

 

[foraday]

Best get off to the hospital and see if you need to buy a habitrail pdq! (sorry could not resist)

Rats (wild ones) have a whole host of nasties on them and in them. Best get checked out and although did not draw blood it could be a nasty puncture wound with a whole load of pus inside not being able to get out!

 

[MrsMozart]

Hi. A & E or doctor's at the very least due to risk of contracting Weils Disease also known as leptosporisis (sp) I think its common for the symptoms to start appearing about 7 days from injury and also rats are known carriers. Seriously would go and get it checked out.

Don't want to alarm, but ditto ^^^

 

[EAST KENT]

A@E for you NOW. Don`t mess with rat bites ,infection at best and death from Weil`s at worst.

 

[moody_mare]

Ring the nhs direct & get your bum to a & e now. My dad was in hospital for 6 days after he got bitten by a rat, can't remeber what the diesease was called. But I would go ASAP better safe then sorry!
Hope all will be okay

 

[Natch]

If you won't listen to A&E and doctors calls, at least ring NHS direct please?

If not for the rat specific diseases, the docs may well want to give you a tetanus booster, even though you are up to date.

Better safe then sorry.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Thanks all. Still the same but no worse. If I ring NHS Direct they sure as eggs will say A&E so I think I'll watch carefully and if no better Monday will ring GP. Bloody cat!

 

[Natch]

Thanks all. Still the same but no worse. If I ring NHS Direct they sure as eggs will say A&E so I think I'll watch carefully and if no better Monday will ring GP. Bloody cat!

ok, I'm going to shout at you now...

IF NHS DIRECT SAY GO TO A&E, THERE'S PROBABLY A GOOD REASON TO GO!!

What about asking to speak to your out of hours doctor on the phone? They will advise you what you are at risk from and if/when its time to go to A&E or if its fine to wait and go to GP on monday.

Edited to add: I'm no doctor, but in the meantime you could poultice it, try to draw out anything nasty?

 

[LynneB]

if it has suddenly become painful, why would you risk not going to the doctor/A&E? Most areas have walk in clinics too. At the very least you needed antibiotics when it happened and the fact there was no blood did not mean it did not break the skin - the deepest of narrow wounds may not show blood. You have already left it a long time, if it were me and I didn't want poison spreading through my finger, I'd be sat in A&E now - regardless of how long it may take. Rather that than have it spread to my whole hand.

 

[MrsMozart]

Ditto the others (again!)

GO TO A&E NOW! OR AT LEAST A WALK-IN CLINIC!

 

[moody_mare]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GO.
A bite from a wild animal is serious, you need medical attention now. Your probaly have (at the very least) an infection under the skin, if you don't get it seen to this will spread to the rest of your hand & the run the risk of having to have your finger amputated. Just go & get it over & done with pleaseeeee

 

[Booboos]

Ditto the others. I think now is the time to alarm you a bit...an out of control infection can kill you. OH nearly died from septicimia from a lowly spot. It got infected, he ignored it, it started really hurting, he ignored it and he was finally carted off to hospital as an emergency with a raging fever and hallucinations. Just because antibiotics work so well most of the time we musn't forget how dangerous infections can be if left untreated.

 

[paddy555]

well I got bitten by a horse and ignored it. It cost me 2 weeks in hospital and an operation.
I ignored it at my peril and I am sure a horse' teeth are cleaner than a rats.
I think it is vital beyond belief that you get attention today, however long it takes as I can assure you it takes a lot longer if it goes bad and they admit you to hospital.
It is difficult to know what to say to you to convince you to take action NOW.

 

[RuthnMeg]

GO TO THE DOCTORS, Do as you're told. Do not mess with HHO peeps!

 

[Queenbee]

get straight to GP. rats carry very nasty diseases. Don't mess around, just get it looked at by a professional. Can't believe you didn't go straight away TBH, even though it has only just started to hurt.

 

[Queenbee]

Thanks all. Still the same but no worse. If I ring NHS Direct they sure as eggs will say A&E so I think I'll watch carefully and if no better Monday will ring GP. Bloody cat!

Yes, that is because they obviously are better informed than you! Seems to me like you shouldn't have posted on here asking for advice, you obviously don't want to take it.

 

[Kellys Heroes]

Trust me, I've just done veterinary parasitology....the risks are not worth it!!
Get yourself to A+E, doctors, walk in centre and get it checked out! I've been bitten many a time by my pet rats, it shouldn't still hurt this long after.
K x