Nose Injuries and Disorders—Animal Bites

Also called: Cat bites, Dog bites

Wild animals usually avoid people. They might attack, however, if they feel threatened, are sick, or are protecting their young or territory. Attacks by pets are more common. Animal bites rarely are life-threatening, but if they become infected, you can develop serious medical problems.

To prevent animal bites and complications from bites

• Never pet, handle, or feed unknown animals
• Leave snakes alone
• Watch your children closely around animals
• Vaccinate your cats, ferrets, and dogs against rabies
• Spay or neuter your dog to make it less aggressive
• Get a tetanus booster if you have not had one recently
• Wear boots and long pants when you are in areas with venomous snakes

If an animal bites you, clean the wound with soap and water as soon as possible. Get medical attention if necessary.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Animal bites – self-care (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Jellyfish stings (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Marine animal stings or bites (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Snake bites (Medical Encyclopedia)

Also called: Nasal disorders

Your nose is important to your health. It filters the air you breathe, removing dust, germs, and irritants. It warms and moistens the air to keep your lungs and tubes that lead to them from drying out. Your nose also contains the nerve cells that help your sense of smell. When there is a problem with your nose, your whole body can suffer. For example, the stuffy nose of the common cold can make it hard for you to breathe, sleep, or get comfortable.

Many problems besides the common cold can affect the nose. They include

• Deviated septum – a shifting of the wall that divides the nasal cavity into halves
• Nasal polyps – soft growths that develop on the lining of your nose or sinuses
• Nosebleeds
• Rhinitis – inflammation of the nose and sinuses sometimes caused by allergies. The main symptom is a runny nose.
• Nasal fractures, also known as a broken nose

• Choanal atresia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Foreign body in the nose (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Nasal endoscopy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Nasal fracture – aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Nasal polyps (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Nose fracture (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Nosebleed (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Stuffy or runny nose – adult (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Stuffy or runny nose – children (Medical Encyclopedia)