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Tag: Rat Bite Fever

  • Rat Bite Fever: One Dangerous Disease You Have to Know

    Rat Bite Fever: One Dangerous Disease You Have to Know

    Rat Bite Fever is an infectious disease caused by bacteria and is dangerous for anybody who has contact with infected rodents. It is a serious illness that can be transmitted through a rat’s bite, scratches or even from contaminated materials. Thus, this represents an important issue to most families.

    Signs of Rat Bite Fever

    Symptoms of rat bite fever should be identified in order to provide early treatment and thereby have a full recovery. The very frequent symptoms are:

    Symptoms in the beginning (3-10 days after exposure to the bite):

    • Sudden fever and chills
    • Extremely intense headache and muscle pain
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Tiredness and lack of strength

    Advanced Symptoms:

    • Typical rash that appears on hands and feet, which is sometimes accompanied by red or purple spots.
    • The pain and swelling in the larger joints.
    • The lymph nodes close to the place where the bite was will be swollen.
    • The wound that was originally there will become an open sore.

    The signs normally become visible after 3-10 days of exposure. Many people never draw a line between their sickness and the fact that a rat was near them and thus they got hurt, because their bite wounds, in particular, are usually healed really fast.

    Complications of Rat Bite Fever

    Complications-of-Rat-Bite-Fever

    If the treatment is not done in the right way, the fever can cause very serious problems. These problems are life-threatening as well.

    Cardiovascular Complications:

    • Infection in heart valves with a mortality rate of 53%.
    • Inflammation in heart muscle.
    • Inflammation in heart lining.
    • Neurological Complications such as Meningitis (inflammation of brain and spinal cord membranes)
    • Brain abscesses

    Other Serious Complications such as-

    • Liver and kidney damage.
    • Pneumonia and respiratory issue.
    • Septic arthritis.
    • Soft tissue abscesses.

    Untreated Rat Bite Fever has a mortality rate of 10-15%, and therefore, immediate medical care is necessary. Early antibiotic therapy help avoid these disastrous complications.

    How Rat Fever Spreads

    Firstly, it is important to note that the infection can be transmitted to human beings through multiple channels.

    Direct Transmission:

    • Scratches and bite that were given by contaminated rodents.
    • Unprotected handling of infected rodents.
    • Saliva, urine, and waste from rats.

    Indirect Transmission:

    • Food or water that is contaminated with the waste of the rodents.
    • Inhaling dust that is contaminated with the secretions of the rodents.

    Rat Infestation Connection

    Rat-Infestation

    Infestation with Rats dramatically raises the probability of the occurrence of Rat Bite Fever. Rats can make 20-50 droppings per day. Aside of that, they also urinate a lot. Therefore, if a rat infestation occurs, it means that the danger to human health is very high. This is because the infected rats spread the dangerous bacteria by their secretions.

    5 Prevention Methods

    In order to protect your family and yourself from this issue, it is necessary to take an approach which is aimed to zero contact with rodents.

    1. Seal Rodent Entry Points

    Fill in all the holes with steel wool, caulk, or metal screening. Check pipes, vents, and cracks properly. Unwanted areas can be covered with sheet metal or hardware cloth, which rats are unable to chew through.

    2. Good Sanitation

    Food must be stored in closed containers, in case of spillage, it must be cleaned up immediately and garbage must be stored in containers with tightly fitting lids.

    3. Wear Gloves

    Do not forget to wear gloves that protect and masks when cleaning the infected areas. Avoid direct contact with materials touched by rodents. Note- Hands must be washed completely after any potential exposure.

    4. Safe Handling

    When there is no other option, the best way to handle rodents is to avoid touching your face and mouth. Also, make sure that everything is disposed of in the safest way possible.

    5. Maintain Professional Pest Control

    Periodic professional inspections and treatments are very effective in preventing rat infestation which in turn saves you from health hazards. Pest control professionals can find out the rodent area of activity at the very beginning and they will also implement prevention strategies that are not just local but are also comprehensive.

    Conclusion

    Rat Bite Fever has attracted a lot of attention because it is a serious health hazard that requires urgent attention by the health sector. The illness is very contagious and can be fatal in case it is not treated in time. Your family should know what to do and how to be safe. The use of professional pest control services is very essential in order to make sure that the safe living environment is not compromised.

    In case you get a hint that rodents are active in your house or if you have the symptoms following the possible exposure, don’t hesitate – get a doctor at once, also call the pest control professionals. The earliest possible moment of intervention might eliminate the establishment of rat infestation as well as the health consequences of Rat Bite Fever.

    For the most complete pest control solutions and professional rat infestation management, entrust the experts at SayNoPest the duty of guarding your home and family against such health risks that are very dangerous.

  • Rat Bites: Symptoms and Treatment

    Rat Bites: Symptoms and Treatment

    In one way or another, pest control issues related to rats that plague the USA can be effectively tackled with a good understanding of “rat bites”. This therefore ensures that your family’s health and safety are not compromised. Rat bites can be one of the causes of serious health complications if they are not handled properly. Hence it is necessary to know the symptoms and get the right treatment.

    What Are Rat Bites?

    Rat bites are caused by the rodents that are aggressive in nature and bite when feel threatened. The common injuries they inflict include punctures by sharp teeth or cuts by their claws. The bites primarily cause bleeding, swelling, and pain on the part of the body bitten. The rodents, generally, avoid human beings. Still there are some cases when they may decide to bite if they are being touched, surprised, or if they are protecting their territory.

    Top 5 Symptoms of Rat-Bite

    Symptoms-of-Rat-Bite

    It is important to spot the symptoms of rat-bite to avoid any delay in medical care. The five most important warning signs are-

    1. Physical Signs- The most evident rat-bite symptoms are the presence of puncture wounds, bleeding and swelling around the bite area. The injury may be just one puncture or many small ones.
    2. Fever and Chills- Fever within 3-10 days after contracting the infection from the bite of rat. Chills and fever are the primary symptoms of rat bite issues.
    3. Skin Rash Development- A rash usually appears 2-4 days after the fever and it commonly affects the hands and feet. This rash can be in the form of red or purple spots or bumps. This rash is undoubtedly one of the most explicit symptoms of the rat-bite fever.
    4. Joint and Muscle Pain- Many individuals report joint pain, swelling, and muscle aches. The intensity of these symptoms can be very high. Hence, the patient might feel pain in more than one joint in the body.
    5. Nausea and vomiting- These are usually accompanied by headaches. Also, fever is common. These signs alone can make it very difficult to carry out daily activities.

    Rat Bite Treatment

    1. Rat bite should be treated immediately to prevent the occurrence of severe complications.
    2. The first thing to do is to wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes.
    3. Use something clean to apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding and clean the area with a suitable antiseptic solution.
    4. Even the seemingly insignificant bites require medical evaluation. In most cases, medical practitioners incorporate the use of antibiotics in their treatment regimen of rat bite to ensure that the infection does not occur.
    5. It is highly important to observe the wound periodically to make sure that no infection occurs. The symptoms of infection can be, e.g., the wound is more red, warm, or drains pus.
    6. Keep taking tetanus shots every 5 years.
    7. It is also important to keep a check on the wound. It ensures that no signs of infection such as redness and puss get unnoticed. This will help you take faster decisions.

    Understanding Rat Bite Fever

    Rat-Bite-Fever

    Rat bite fever is a bacterial infection that can go as far as causing complications and even lead to death. This might occur without treatment. Just 10% of individuals who have got rat bites get rat bite fever. The bacteria that are naturally found in the mouth and respiratory tract of a rat cause rat bite fever.

    Rat bite fever is a strange disease in the United States, which is primarily caused by a bacterium called Streptobacillus moniliformis, and the other rat bite fever caused by Spirillum minus is more common in Asia. This disease is capable of claiming a life when left untreated, it is revealed that death rates may reach up to 10-15 percent without treatment.

    Prevention Strategies

    Elimination of rodents by the use of traps and poisons and by avoiding direct contact with rodents are the most effective ways of preventing rodent bites. Do not try to catch a wild rat under any circumstance. While dealing with pet rodents, maintain good hygiene. Use professional pest control services to solve the rat problem at home in a safe and reliable manner.

    Conclusion

    If a rat bites, then immediate first aid and professional medical evaluation ensure the best outcome. SayNoPest, a reliable partner in providing a safe and rodent-free environment for your family, can be reached for complete pest control services and expert tips on how to avoid rat bites.