Customer LoginBitten by a mouse? In this article, we cover the common risks of mouse bites and what to do immediately following. If you’ve been bitten by a mouse and think you might be experiencing post-symptoms, see your medical provider ASAP.
What to do if you’re bitten by a mouse
If you’re bitten or scratched by a rodent, you should immediately clean the wound with warm water and soap. After you clean the area, you can dry it with a fresh towel and apply an antibiotic cream and bandage.
Step-by-Step Guide – Fantastic Pest Control
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- Clean the wound as fast as you can by placing it under running warm water.
- Take out any object left from the injury, like teeth, mice hair or dirt
- Squeeze the wound gently to push out some blood
- In case of heavy bleeding, cover the tear with a sterile pad and apply pressure
- Dry out the wound carefully, rub in some disinfecting solution and put on a plaster
- Take Paracetamol or Ibuprofen if you experience any sort of pain
- Visit your doctor if the wound is more serious
“Most of the risks of mouse bites come from potential bacterial or viral infections. Mouse bites can also cause allergic reactions in some people…A case study we made in 2016 shows that people (51.38% to be exact) encounter rodents more often than any other type of vermin… The pest can carry a number of health-treating diseases like leptospirosis, tularemia, typhus and even bubonic plague” – Healthline
Mousebite Infection Symptomology
See your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:
- The pain from the injury is getting worse
- You develop a high fever
- Any expanding redness around the wound area
- Red lines starting to form throughout the tear
- The lymph nodes on your neck, groin, armpit or around the injury bloat up
- If the wound starts to radiate heat
- The affected spots get tender to the touch
What types of diseases do mice carry?
Hantavirus
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome
Leptospirosis
Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis
Salmonellosis
Rat-bite fever
Hantavirus
“Hantavirus is a rare but potentially lethal disease spread by deer mice and white-footed mice. It has a mortality rate of 38 percent. Hantavirus can be spread through mouse saliva, urine, or feces. Transmission through mouse bites is rare. Usually, people develop it through airborne transmission.” – Healthline
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
“Lymphocytic choriomeningitis is a viral disease carried by rodents. “It’s estimated that 5 percent of house mice in the United States carry lymphocytic choriomeningitis. It can be transmitted to humans through saliva, blood, feces, or urine.” – Healthline
If the infection spreads, it can lead to more serious conditions like meningitis. Meningitis is an infection of the tissue that lines your spinal cord and brain.
Rat-bite Fever
“Rat-bite fever is a type of infection carried by bacteria that live on some rodents. It can be transmitted through bites or by consuming food and water contaminated with rodent feces or urine.” – Healthline
There currently aren’t any laboratory tests that can tell whether a mouse is carrying the bacteria that causes rat-bite fever, so a doctor may provide you with antibiotics before an infection develops.
Symptoms
- fever
- vomiting
- headache
- muscle pain
- joint swelling or pain
- rash
“Antibiotics are highly effective at curing rate-bite fever if it’s treated quickly. If not treated, the mortality rate is more than 10 percent.” – Healthline
What to do next.
Were you bitten by a mouse in or around your home or business? It won’t be the last time – mice do not just go away on their own. In fact, given the right home and access to food, mice will multiply by the hundreds in just a short time. The longer a mouse infestation is allowed on your property, the greater the chances of mice bites and resulting infections.
Get comprehensive rodent control with A1 Exterminators. We use the most advanced detection and prevention methods available to get your mice gone. Learn more about A1 Rodent Control here. Ready to get pest free? Contact us here.