Suggest Treatment For Painful Cat Bite On The Hand

Posted on Mon, 9 Jan 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 9 Jan 2017 Answered on

Wed, 1 Feb 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Yesterday, I was bitten by a cat multiple times on the hand. I went to urgent care. They prescribed Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium Tablets 875 mg/125 mg. My first dose was at 2:00 pm, my second at 11:00 pm. It is now 5 am. I woke up with severe pain and swelling in my finger that had received 5 puncture wounds. This finger was swollen yesterday, but now it is much more swollen and there is a collection of pus under the skin around one of the wounds that is particularly painful. The pus is not leaking. I do not have a fever. The other wound sites are under the wet/dry wrap as suggested by the doctor and do not appear to have any infection. Do I need to go to the ER for treatment of the pus filled wound? Or allow time for the prescribed Amoxicillin to take more effect?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
should be seen

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

It would be best for you to be reviewed as soon as possible.

Treatment for cat bites or other animal bites can also involve debridement (cleaning) of the wound.
This may not have been thought necessary yesterday when the pus was not present but it may be needed today.

Antibiotics do not penetrate pus filled areas well so it has be cleaned.

In addition, though the antibiotic that you were given is the first line for the treatment of bites, you may additional medication to make sure that you heal appropriately.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar