Animal & snake bites: Clinical Nursing Care

Summary

This video script provides a detailed guide on animal and snake bites, explaining the causes, anatomy of the skin, bite pathology, and treatment. It highlights that dogs are the most common source of bites, followed by cats and rodents, with snakes posing a significant risk in certain regions. The script covers bite-related injuries, complications like infections and venom exposure, and clinical symptoms. It emphasizes the importance of proper wound care, antibiotics, and prophylactic treatments. Additionally, it stresses client education on preventing bites and caring for wounds, along with key nursing interventions to manage and treat bite victims effectively.

Takeaways

• 😀 Animal bites can be caused by various animals including dogs, cats, small rodents, and snakes, and even humans.
• 😀 The skin consists of the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, each with vital functions such as protection, immune response, and structural support.
• 😀 Inflammatory responses from immune cells contribute to the classic signs of inflammation: heat, pain, redness, and swelling.
• 😀 Dog bites are the most common animal bites, often affecting children, whereas cat bites tend to be more common in adults.
• 😀 Snake bites are significant health risks in certain regions like Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, often occurring in forested or farming areas.
• 😀 Bites are categorized as provoked (by healthy animals) or unprovoked (often caused by animals with rabies).
• 😀 Animal bite injuries can range from minor punctures to severe tissue damage, with complications such as infections and venom exposure in the case of snake bites.
• 😀 Dog bites often transmit bacteria like Capnocytophaga canimorsus, while cat bites can lead to deeper infections like septic arthritis.
• 😀 Snake venom can cause neurotoxicity or hemotoxicity, leading to severe complications such as paralysis, bleeding, or muscle breakdown.
• 😀 Diagnosis of animal and snake bites is based on the history, physical assessment, and additional testing like blood cultures or X-rays for foreign bodies.
• 😀 Treatment of animal bites includes wound cleaning, antibiotic prophylaxis, and possibly tetanus and rabies vaccines, while snake bites require antivenom and supportive care.

Q & A

What are the main layers of the skin and their functions?

The skin consists of three main layers: the epidermis, which acts as a protective barrier; the dermis, which contains blood vessels and nerve endings; and the hypodermis, which provides structural support through connective tissue.

How do immune cells respond to a bite wound?

Immune cells are activated when a bite wound occurs, releasing inflammatory molecules like cytokines and histamine. These molecules attract more immune cells to the injury site, causing capillaries to enlarge and become more permeable, leading to the classic signs of inflammation: heat, pain, redness, and swelling.

What are the most common types of animal bites?

The most common animal bites are from dogs (up to 90% of cases), followed by cats and small rodents like squirrels or rats. Snake bites are also significant, especially in certain regions such as Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.

What is the difference between provoked and unprovoked animal bites?

A provoked animal bite occurs when a healthy animal is attempting to feed or is handled normally. An unprovoked bite typically happens when the animal is infected with rabies or another disease that causes aggressive behavior.

What are the complications of animal bites?

Complications of animal bites include infections from bacteria like Capnocytophaga canimorsus (in dog bites), deep puncture wounds (especially from cats), or exposure to venom in snake bites. These can lead to serious conditions like sepsis, septic arthritis, or even limb loss.

How do snake bites affect the body?

Snake bites can lead to local symptoms like swelling, redness, and tissue necrosis. Some venom causes neurotoxicity, leading to paralysis, while others cause hemotoxicity, affecting coagulation and potentially leading to bleeding and shock.

What diagnostic tests are important for animal and snake bites?

For animal bites, diagnostic tests may include a CBC to assess for infection or systemic illness, and an x-ray to check for foreign bodies or deep tissue injury. For snake bites, lab tests may reveal signs of coagulopathy or rhabdomyolysis, with elevated levels of CK and myoglobin in urine.

What is the general treatment for animal bites?

Treatment for animal bites involves controlling active bleeding, cleaning the wound, and possibly applying a sterile dressing. Tetanus and rabies prophylaxis should be considered, and if the wound becomes infected, oral or intravenous antibiotics may be used.

How should snake bites be treated?

Snake bite treatment includes local wound care, pain management with analgesics or opioids, IV fluids, and elevation of the affected limb. Antivenom is given when available, but methods like applying a tourniquet or sucking out the venom are no longer recommended.

What are some key points to teach clients and families after a dog bite?

Clients should take prescribed medications as directed, monitor the wound for signs of infection (increased pain, swelling, redness), and contact healthcare providers if symptoms worsen. They should also learn how to avoid dog bites by understanding dog behavior and always asking before petting a dog.