Infection Following Cat Bite Despite Antibiotic Treatment
Greetings everyone. I’m a 24-year-old female with no prior medications. My vaccinated cat accidentally bit me on Monday, creating a noticeable puncture on my right calf. I promptly cleaned the wound and applied isopropyl alcohol right after the incident, then carried on with my daily routine. It wasn't until yesterday that I experienced some discomfort, and upon checking the wound, I noticed significant swelling and signs of possible infection. By around 9 PM, the condition appeared to deteriorate, prompting me to mark the area with a pen for monitoring purposes. When I awoke at 7 AM, the bite had visibly worsened. Concerned about the swelling, I rushed to urgent care at 8 AM. The medical personnel prescribed a ten-day course of Cephalexin, 500 mg three times daily. Currently, it seems to be expanding and becoming increasingly inflamed. Although I've only taken two doses of the antibiotics thus far and understand that healing can take time, I’m wondering how much longer I should wait before seeking further medical advice. Additionally, any moisture observed in images is due to the antibiotic ointment I applied yesterday, and not a discharge from the wound.
Answers (1)
9/11/2025, 5:50:44 PM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're taking your situation seriously, and that's important, especially with a cat bite that shows signs of infection. Since you're experiencing worsening symptoms despite starting antibiotics, it’s essential to act appropriately.
Explanation
Cat bites can introduce bacteria into the body, increasing the risk of infection. It's encouraging that you've consulted urgent care and are on antibiotics. However, the presence of swelling, pain, and inflammation that's worsening after starting treatment suggests that the infection may not be responding as expected. This can happen for several reasons, including antibiotic resistance or the depth of the wound.
Next Steps
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep an eye on the area for any increasing redness, swelling, warmth, or change in drainage. Take your temperature to check for fever, which indicates your body is fighting an infection.
-
Continue Antibiotics: Be sure to complete your prescribed course of Cephalexin as directed, even if symptoms seem to improve. Antibiotics can take a few days to start showing improvement, but worsening symptoms are concerning.
-
Seek Further Medical Attention: Since you’ve noticed an escalation of symptoms despite medication, it’s wise to return to urgent care or your primary care physician if the situation doesn’t improve significantly within 48 hours. You can mention the concerns you’re having, and they may perform additional evaluations, such as imaging or a change in your treatment plan.
-
Wound Care at Home: Keep the wound clean and dry. You can wash it gently with soap and water and reapply antibiotic ointment as per your initial care plan. Avoid any harsh cleaners like alcohol on the open wound, as this can delay healing.
-
Pain Management: If you're experiencing pain, consider over-the-counter pain relief such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, following the dosing instructions on the package.
Remember, while waiting for improvement is sometimes necessary, if you notice rapid worsening, such as increased pain, swelling, or if you feel unwell overall, do not hesitate to consult with healthcare professionals sooner. Your health and comfort are a priority!
Related Questions
Strange Stomach Sensation Leading to Waking Up
Greetings. I'm a 36-year-old male, standing at 172 centimeters and weighing 90 kilograms. I don't take any medications, nor do I smoke. I've been living with diastasis recti for several years now, and I may also have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Additionally, I deal with fatty liver and kidney stones, though I assume these last two conditions are not related to my current concern. Occasionally, I experience a peculiar sensation that jolts me awake; it feels like a quick pulsing in my stomach. I’ve noticed it tends to affect the left side when I’m lying on my left side and the right side when on my right. Remarkably, it can occur even when I’m on my back. This strange feeling often escalates into a surge that fully rouses me. Alongside this, I sometimes feel prickling sensations throughout my body and fleeting lightheadedness. When this sensation disturbs my sleep while I’m turned to my side, shifting onto my back or the opposite side might alleviate it, but not always. In instances where I awaken while lying on my back, I discovered that gently pressing my hands on either side of my stomach can help, as can rising to a sitting or standing position. However, during my last two episodes—one a couple of weeks ago and another tonight—those techniques weren’t effective right away, which made me feel a bit anxious, prompting me to seek advice. Does anyone have insight into what might be going on? By the way, I’ve undergone routine ultrasound examinations of my abdomen by two different physicians during check-ups, both of whom assured me that everything appears normal, including my abdominal aorta and internal organs. They didn’t identify any issues at that time.
Understanding Tuberculosis Exposure Risk
A 26-year-old male, who neither drinks alcohol nor smokes, seeks to understand the implications of exposure to tuberculosis (TB). As an anesthesia technician, I became concerned after I encountered a TB-positive patient about a month ago. I had to enter the patient’s room several times to perform blood gas tests. On my first entry, I mistakenly wore my N95 mask incorrectly due to the hectic nature of attending to multiple rooms. From my research, it appears that TB is quite transmissible; direct exposure can pose a serious risk of infection. Transmission usually requires prolonged contact with an infected individual, particularly in a close or face-to-face setting. In this case, the patient was lying face down and appeared to be sleeping when I entered. I have already undergone testing for TB, but I am eager to deepen my understanding of the risks involved in these situations.
24M | Unexplained Fainting Incident
**Note:** I previously shared this story, but it was inexplicably removed. I’m a 24-year-old male without any medical diagnosis or prescription medications. While I do consume alcohol occasionally, I hadn’t been drinking before this happened. Around 3 a.m., I got up from bed to use the restroom. As soon as I began to urinate, I suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. The next moment I was aware of was regaining consciousness in the bathtub, startled awake by the sensation of something dripping on me—only to discover it was my own blood. This was my first experience with fainting. When I came to, confusion set in. I was disoriented and couldn’t comprehend why I was being dripped on while in what I thought was my “bed.” Strangely, I also imagined that I was lying on a collection of marbles (which I actually don’t own)—this turned out to be the shattered glass of my shower door lying around me. I’m uncertain whether I lost consciousness first and then fell, or if the fall caused my brief blackout. It took me a few moments to understand why I was in the bathroom at all. I’m not sure how long I was out; I only remember it was around 3 in the morning when I initially got up, and about the same time when I regained consciousness. I dialed 911, and the ambulance arrived promptly. They checked my vitals, performed an EKG and measured my blood sugar, finding nothing unusual. At the emergency room, they repeated the vital checks, conducted a CT scan, drew blood, and took x-rays—yet still no abnormalities were detected. I had several cuts on my face and left arm (curiously, this is the arm that would have been turned away from the door), along with bruising around my ribs. Since the incident, I’ve been suffering from headaches and pain in my ribs. I received stitches on both my face and arm. The nurse suggested I could have stronger pain relief, but I opted for just Toradol. They eventually discharged me, stating, "We’re unsure what caused this, but return if it happens again." What might have triggered such an incident? How can I safeguard against it reoccurring if they remain uncertain about the cause?
Swelling Beneath My Chin Near the Jawline
18-Year-Old Male: I'm reaching out to any medical professionals who might provide insights into my situation. I've been using marijuana since I was 14, but now, at 17, I'm making an effort to stop and have been clean for 18 days. Recently, I've discovered an unusual swelling located just beneath my chin, behind my jaw. It causes some discomfort when I move, yet it doesn’t feel painful continuously. I'm somewhat anxious that this could be indicative of a more serious issue, especially considering it's positioned near my chin's lymph nodes. Any advice or information would be greatly appreciated as it might help alleviate my worry.
Challenges with Appetite and Discomfort While Eating — Difficulty in Gaining Weight
As an 18-year-old male, I find that I become satisfied after consuming rather minimal amounts of food. This situation presents a considerable challenge, particularly since I only need to have a standard breakfast, lunch, or dinner to feel completely satiated for the remainder of the day. My goal of increasing my weight has made this issue even more complicated. When I limit myself to one meal per day, I often face weight loss or an uncomfortable sensation of fullness that leaves me feeling sluggish. Opting for two meals makes me feel excessively bloated, distracting me from my daily responsibilities. Moreover, I suffer from an unusual issue with my throat, where almost any food I consume causes discomfort, as detailed in the list below. I have contemplated focusing on having just lunch while continuing my weightlifting regimen to maintain my current weight and gradually build muscle. What advice could you offer? Could there be an underlying cause for these symptoms? Lastly, would it be wise for me to consult a healthcare professional? Foods That Cause Discomfort: Bread, flour, pizza, fruits, sugary or starchy items, seed oils, chips, and essentially everything else. Foods That Are Tolerable: Rice, salads, chicken, fish, and vegetables. Overall Symptoms Include: * Quick satiety after normal meals * Challenges in gaining weight * Bloated and lethargic sensations when consuming more than one meal * Persistent throat sensitivity to a wide variety of foods