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Soft Tissue Inflammation of the Arm and Hand Caused by Human Bites

Nguyen Dang Duc1, Nguyen Phuong Sinh2, Lam Nguyen Hong Anh2

  • 1Poison Control Center of Bach Mai Hospital, Ha Noi, Vietnam.

American Journal of Men'S Health
|February 13, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Human bites can lead to severe soft tissue infections and necrosis. This case highlights a patient with cellulitis following a human bite, emphasizing the critical need for prompt medical attention for such injuries.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Dermatology
  • Traumatology

Background:

  • Human bites carry a significant risk of infection, often leading to severe soft tissue complications.
  • Prompt recognition and management of human bite injuries are crucial to prevent complications like cellulitis and necrosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of extensive soft tissue injury and cellulitis following a human bite.
  • To emphasize the potential severity of human bite wounds and the importance of specialized care.

Main Methods:

  • A case report detailing a 59-year-old male patient presenting with left arm and hand soft tissue injuries, pain, swelling, and necrosis post-human bite.
  • Clinical examination, laboratory tests (blood culture, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count), and soft tissue magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were utilized.
  • Initial treatment included antitetanus serum, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and antipyretics, with subsequent transfer to a specialized burn hospital due to lack of improvement.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with signs of severe infection, including high fever and elevated inflammatory markers (CRP: 458.1 mg/L, WBC: 19.9 G/L).
  • MRI confirmed cellulitis of the left arm.
  • Despite initial treatment, the patient's condition deteriorated, necessitating transfer to a higher level of care.

Conclusions:

  • Human bite injuries can result in serious soft tissue inflammation and necrosis, requiring aggressive management.
  • This case represents the first documented instance of soft tissue damage with cellulitis in the left arm at the reporting poison center following a human bite.
  • Early recognition and appropriate, potentially aggressive, treatment are vital for managing human bite-induced soft tissue injuries.
Keywords:
human bitesoft tissue inflammationsoft tissue necrosis

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