Diseases other than rabies caused by dog bites

On Behalf of Johnston Law Offices P.C   |   May 12, 2021   |   Personal Injury ,

Many people in Illinois know that getting bitten by a dog can cause a victim to contract rabies. What many people don’t know is that rabies is not the only disease that you can get from a dog bite. Here are some other diseases that get caused by dog bites.

Tetanus

Tetanus is a disease that is usually found in dust or in the dirt. It stems from a bacterium known as Clostridium tetani bacterium, which is also found inside a dog’s mouth. If a dog bites you, it is likely that these bacteria will cause an infection that could have very dangerous consequences.

Getting infected by bacteria can lead to paralysis, and if it isn’t treated in a timely manner, it could even be fatal. The medical bills to deal with this could be expensive, so hiring a personal injury attorney might help you receive compensation for the bills and the suffering you have endured.

MSRA

MSRA is an acronym for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that isn’t very common. These bacteria are resistant to one class of antibiotics and can live inside a dog’s mouth. If a dog bites you and these bacteria get into your bloodstream, it can be disastrous for your health and cause you to develop a serious infection.

Capnocytophaga bacteria

This is another type of bacteria that lives within a dog’s mouth. If these bacteria get into your bloodstream, it may cause a minor infection that isn’t anything to get too stressed about. However, if you are someone who has a weak immune system, the bacteria can inflict a devastating illness that could be life-threatening if not treated quickly.

Pasteurella bacteria

These types of bacteria are known as the most common cause of infections after getting bitten by a dog. It is estimated that over half of infections that people get after dog bites are caused by these bacteria. Typically, this infection isn’t life-threatening; it usually has symptoms such as swelling or redness around the wound. If you don’t see a doctor and get it treated, the infection can develop to something more serious like meningitis or pneumonia.

Rabies isn’t the only thing you should worry about when dealing with dog bites. If you ever get bitten by a dog, the first thing you should do is see a doctor to make sure that you haven’t gotten infected.