The signs of infection from a dog bite in Cincinnati, OH, include severe redness or swelling, persistent pain, and warmth around the wound. Other common indicators are pus, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. Headaches and muscle or joint pain could also point to a spreading infection. If you notice red streaks leading from the bite site, the infection also could be spreading. Immediate medical attention may prevent sepsis or other complications.
Ohio holds dog owners responsible for bites. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call Young, Reverman & Bolotin at 513-400-0000 to find out about your rights.
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Common Signs of Infection After a Dog Bite in Ohio
After a dog bite, some redness and swelling is normal. However, when dog bites pierce the skin, bacteria could enter the body and cause an infection. Monitoring your wound for symptoms of an infection can help with treatment.
One sign of a dog bite infection is when the redness and swelling are unusually intense or begin to spread from the wound. Other indicators include:
- Pain or tenderness lasting more than 24 hours: Seek medical attention if your discomfort does not go away or worsens.
- Warm to the touch: A warm feeling around the wound could point to inflammation, one of the body’s common responses to bacterial invasion.
- Pus or discharge: Beware of pus, drainage, or odd discharge.
- Muscle or joint pain, or hard time moving the affected part of your body: Struggling to move the body part could indicate tissue inflammation or bacteria spread. For example, tissue damage from bacteria may affect nerves and muscles, meaning less mobility and more stiffness.
- Fever: This could point to an infection that has spread into your bloodstream.
- Swollen lymph nodes: When lymph nodes swell, they may be fighting off an infection. If the swelling gets even worse, the infection is likely progressing.
Other signs of a spreading infection include red streaks from the bite site that run from the wound toward the heart. Sepsis is a possible complication of untreated infections and can be fatal. It occurs when the body overreacts to an infection, so seek medical help as soon as possible.
Red streaks likely mean the infection is moving through your lymphatic system, an important part of the immune system. Additional symptoms of an infected dog bite spreading include muscle or joint pain, shaking, night sweats, headache, and fever.
Blisters around the wound could also indicate infection. Some types of bacteria cause pus-filled blisters, while an infection could cause lesions filled with fluid. Allergic reactions to the bacteria or to newly introduced irritants could cause blisters, as well.
People With Weaker Immune Systems
Dog bite infection signs can show up much quicker in immunocompromised people and be much worse. The chances of developing sepsis are higher. If you are immunocompromised, be extra careful to watch for a dog bite wound that is slow to heal. Blackened skin, confusion, dizziness, or weakness are among the many infection symptoms that you may be more likely to experience.
Reducing the Chances of Infection
Taking a few steps after the bite can cut down on the chances of infection. However, the chance of infection is always present, no matter what you do. Washing the wound with warm water and soap is one measure. If you use a clean cloth or gauze to stop bleeding, avoid too much pressure. Pushing too hard might push bacteria deeper into the wound. Antibiotic creams can also reduce infection risks. Be sure to cover the wound with a sterile bandage.
What to Do if You Suspect an Infection From a Dog Bite
If you notice signs of infection from a dog bite, get medical attention as soon as possible. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or recommend other interventions. Keep monitoring the wound and your symptoms for signs of worsening infection.
Also, report the dog bite if you have not already. Ohio dog bite laws require dog bites (and nonhuman mammal bites) to be reported to the local health commissioner. Doing this can help reduce the spread of rabies and other diseases.
How a Dog Bite Lawyer Can Help With Medical Costs and Compensation in Cincinnati
Can you sue someone if their dog bites you? Often, yes, and lawyers can help with that and much more. There’s no question that dog bites are scary and can lead to serious financial burdens such as medical bills and lost income.
Ohio generally holds dog owners liable for the injuries their dogs cause. You do not need to prove negligence to seek compensation, although showing negligence can increase the compensation you receive. A dog bite lawyer can help in many ways.
- Evaluating the case: A lawyer assesses the circumstances of the bite to determine whether a claim is valid. Part of this is determining whether owner negligence, such as a bite from an unleashed dog, or dog bites during deliveries, may have been present.
- Gathering evidence: Medical records, photographs, and witness statements can support a claim.
- Calculating damages: Lawyers consider medical expenses, time off work, long-term impacts on earning abilities, pain and suffering, scarring, disfigurement, and punitive damages in cases of gross negligence such as an unleashed and ungated dog roaming freely.
- Anticipating defenses: Ohio dog bite liability may not apply in cases involving the victims trespassing, committing criminal offenses, or provoking the dogs. If the other side is likely to argue that you provoked the dog, your lawyer can counteract these claims.
- Negotiating with insurers: Insurance companies like to rush and lowball settlement offers. A personal injury lawyer negotiates with insurers for maximum compensation.
- Representing you in court: If a personal injury lawsuit is necessary, an Ohio dog bite lawyer represents you in court.
Dogs in Ohio can be dangerous. Cincinnati ranks eighth among U.S. cities for dog attacks on mail carriers, with two other Ohio cities in the top 10 (Cleveland, #5, and Columbus, #10).Talking with a lawyer as soon as possible after a dog bite can help preserve evidence and lead to better outcomes. Contact us at Young, Reverman & Bolotin to discuss your case.
