Animal bite wounds

• Mammals (cats, dogs, humans, etc.)

  If you are bitten, bacteria such as Pasteurella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus, which are normal inhabitants of the oral cavity of mammals and are attached to the teeth, can enter the body, potentially causing an infection. Treatment involves incising and cleaning the wound, leaving it open to heal, and in severe cases there is a risk of developing necrotizing fasciitis or suppurative osteomyelitis. If you are bitten, wash your body thoroughly with tap water and seek medical advice.

• snakebite

  There are eight species of snakes living on the Japanese mainland (excluding Hokkaido), two of which (the Mamushi and Yamakagashi) are venomous. If you need serum, please contact the Japan Snake Research Institute.

  • Pit viper

    The poison is hemotoxic, and a bite causes severe pain, internal bleeding, and swelling. The poison is three times stronger than that of a snake, and it can cause acute renal failure due to myoglobinemia caused by muscle destruction, making it the most common cause of death from bites. If you are bitten, wash your body thoroughly with tap water and seek medical attention.

  • Yamakagashi

    The venom is hemotoxic. Although severe pain and swelling are mild, subcutaneous and internal bleeding can occur throughout the body, and in severe cases, kidney failure and intracerebral hemorrhage can lead to death. In the Kinki region, there are greenish-colored snakes, while in the Chugoku region, there are bluish-colored ones, and they are sometimes mistaken for non-venomous snakes. If you are bitten, wash thoroughly with tap water and seek medical attention.