Overview

Human bites can be as dangerous as or even more dangerous than animal bites because of the types of bacteria and viruses in the human mouth. A human bite could be accidental or on purpose, with most bites due to another person. A human bite could arise when you cut your knuckles on another person's teeth, as might happen in a fight. Or it could be due to a cut on your knuckles from your teeth, such as from a fall. Human bites that break the skin can become infected.

Treatment

To take care of a human bite that breaks the skin:

  • Stop the bleeding by applying pressure with a clean, dry cloth.
  • Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Apply a clean bandage. Cover the affected area with a nonstick bandage.
  • Seek emergency medical care.

If you haven't had a tetanus shot within five years, your healthcare professional may recommend a booster. In this case, get the booster shot within 48 hours of the injury.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

April 24, 2024