Brought to you by

What are the symptoms of a human bite?

What problems can human bites cause?

What should I do if someone bites me?

How do doctors treat a human bite?

Bites and Stings

Animal Bites

Bee, Wasp, Hornet, and Ant Stings

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Which form of treatment may be necessary for orbital cellulitis but not for preseptal cellulitis?

Antibiotics
Hospitalization
Management by an ophthalmologist
Surgery

Human Bites

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Last full review/revision Sep 2019

Click here for the Professional Version

Get the full details

Human bites are usually painful and leave bruises or teeth marks on your skin
Infected bites are painful, red, and swollen
If you punch someone in the mouth and get a cut on your knuckles, that's considered a human bite (a "fight bite")
"Fight bites" to your fist usually leave a small, straight cut over a knuckle—if a finger tendon (tissue connecting the muscle and bone) is cut, you may have a hard time moving that finger

Human bites usually cause only bruises and shallow cuts. However, if someone bites a small part, such as your ear, nose, finger, or penis, they can bite it off.

You're very unlikely to get HIV if you're bitten by someone with HIV—there isn't much HIV virus in saliva (spit)
You might get hepatitis if you're bitten by someone who has the disease
“Fight bites” often become infected because mouth germs can become trapped deep inside your hand

You should quickly clean out your wound.

Clean your wound with lots of soap and water
Don't put alcohol, iodine, or any other kinds of antiseptics in your wound
See a doctor if the skin is broken open

If a body part is bitten off:

Wrap any bitten off parts in a clean, damp towel
Put them in a plastic bag
Put that bag in another plastic bag with ice in it

Don't put body parts in water or directly on ice.

If a human bite tears your skin, doctors will:

Flush out the bite area with sterile saline (germ-free salt water)
Clean your wound with soap and water
Sometimes, close the bite with stitches
Give you antibiotics to stop infection
If you have a fight bite that's infected, give you medicine through an IV (into your vein)

Your doctor will ask you questions about the person who bit you. Your answers may help the doctor decide whether you need medicine to prevent any diseases spread by biting.

Sometimes doctors can reattach a severed body part.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: Click here for the Professional Version

Click here for the Professional Version

Bee, Wasp, Hornet, and Ant Stings

Was This Page Helpful?

Insect Bites

Merck and the Merck Manuals

Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Merck Manual was first published in 1899 as a service to the community. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Manual in the remainder of the world. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge.

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

TOP