How to handle scratches from a cat?

The content of the article

1 Felinosis and cats
2 How to treat scratches
3 Possibility of infection from a cat
4 Treatment methods
5 Video: cat bitten first aid and treatment

Cats and cats are one of the cutest creatures in the whole world, but they can bring not only tenderness, but also pain with diseases. In fact, many people consider cat scratches to be something insignificant and quite often this attitude is quite justified by the absence of consequences from scratches. However, a completely dismissive attitude is not entirely reasonable.

Felinosis and cats

There is a disease called felinosis, which is also called cat scratch disease. Felinosis develops under the influence of bacteria that are introduced under the skin from an infected cat. If the cat is sick, then by licking, biting or scratching, it can also make the person infected, and after that pretty unpleasant effects begin to develop.

The initial step is contact with the cat.
Then there is a bloating and a small sore.
After at least one week, a slight fever and inflammation of the lymph nodes begins.
There is soreness of the lymph nodes, they swell a bit, may have suppuration.
A rash, tonsillitis and other inflammation develops.
Some special diseases are possible, such as Parino conjunctivitis.
Leukocytosis, lymphocytosis.
Biopathology.

In general, if you do not go into details, then an untreated disease gives a lot of unpleasant effects. Of course, a lot depends on the human immunity and other circumstances, but one way or another, cat scratches should be handled with utmost care.

In general, scratches from a cat are quite specific in themselves, they break through layers of epithelium immediately in a row and are quite deep. If such a scratch begins to heal, a closed wound forms, that is, pus and bacteria accumulate in the cavity. Therefore, such wounds need to be washed and additionally treated so that the scratch heals without the need for the body to process pus and bacteria.

How to treat scratches

In fact, there is a very simple and effective way, which is to treat the wound with hydrogen peroxide. It is only necessary to use a little peroxide, which is applied to the very surface of the scratches and left so that the liquid begins to act. Peroxide allows you to immediately almost completely eliminate various bacteria from the wound cavity and improve blood coagulation.

cat bitten - what to do at home?

Possibility of infection from a cat

Probably one of the most exciting questions is the topic of infection from cats with various serious ailments, for example, is it possible to get HIV from a cat or can it infect rabies. In fact, such risks do occur, they are minimal, but you need to know how the diseases are transmitted.

A cat with rabies is noticeable by its overly active behavior, the presence of saliva that flows from the mouth. Mad cats are highly aggressive, can scratch and bite, but the rabies virus is transmitted only through saliva. If the cat scratches and saliva is in the wound, then rabies can be infected.

In order to become infected with the HIV virus, more specific circumstances are needed. Feline HIV infection is not possible, but in order to get a human virus, it is necessary that the blood of an infected person be on the claws of a cat. In this case, there must be fresh blood that flowed there no more than eight minutes ago, since the virus exists "on the outside" only for eight minutes.

Treatment methods

Of course, when domestic cats scratch, one should not attach special importance to this. Although, using peroxide is still useful.In particular, if your pet often walks along the street and may bring some infections with it.

If you are scratched by wild cats, then you need to perform specialized treatment and not neglect any stage:

Disinfection with chlorhexidine or miramistin.
Apply a dressing with Levomekol.
We continue to apply and change dressings for 3-4 days.
Lubricate the wounds with Solcoseryl five times every day for a week.
Scars are treated with Mederma or Contractubex until complete healing 2-3 times daily.

If, 2-3 days after the start of the implementation of this scheme, you see suppuration and observe an increase in temperature, then you should turn to the city.

You can supplement the first stage of the above scheme as follows: wash the scar with soap (it is better to use laundry soap) with water and hydrogen peroxide. We repeat the washing several times in a row, after which the edges of the scars are treated with iodine or diamond greens, but do not affect the middle of the wound. In this case, if a stray cat scratched, it is better to immediately contact a doctor.