Cat-astrophic bill: Cat bite leads to 410,000 baht infection

A young woman from Ayutthaya nearly lost her hand after a cat bite, resulting in a severe bacterial infection and medical expenses amounting to 410,000 baht. She now warns others to seek immediate medical attention if bitten by pets.

The woman, 29 year old Sansanee from Wang Noi district revealed that on September 21, she attempted to trim the nails of her female cat, Happy, whom she had adopted over two years ago. Despite Happy’s generally aggressive nature and refusal to be handled by anyone else, Sansanee managed to do so.

Unfortunately, Happy had not been vaccinated due to her temperament.

On the day of the incident, Happy was agitated and bit Sansanee’s left palm, causing a deep puncture wound. Sansanee, feeling the pain, used a cotton bud to probe the wound and measure its depth, which turned out to be approximately 1.5 centimetres. Later that day, she visited a doctor, showing them a video of her probing the wound. The doctor advised against such actions as it could lead to infection.

The doctor administered a tetanus shot, cleaned the wound, and applied a bandage. However, the wound was not thoroughly cleaned internally. Two days later, her left palm became swollen and red, with the pain spreading up her arm. She returned to the doctor, who incised the wound to drain the pus.

Despite this, her condition did not improve, leading to another incision two days later, resulting in a deeper wound.

Emergency surgery

Sansanee had to undergo daily wound care and take antibiotics but her symptoms persisted. Ultimately, she was admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery on September 29. The diagnosis revealed that her hand was infected with bacteria typically found in cat faeces, which had spread from her palm to her wrist.

The doctor stated that if the surgery had been delayed, her hand might have had to be amputated. The initial cleaning of the wound may not have removed all the bacteria, allowing it to spread throughout her hand.

Sansanee explained that she had lost feeling in her index finger and thumb as the bacteria damaged the nerves in those areas, preventing normal movement. She speculated that Happy might have cleaned her feet after defecating, transferring the bacteria to her paws and subsequently to her hand during the bite.

Sansanee’s medical expenses totalled 410,000 baht, which she shared on social media, sparking a conversation about the cost. She clarified that the amount was reasonable as she received treatment at a private hospital, reputed to be the best in the province.

The costs included blood transfusions, various antibiotics, and pain medications, administered both orally and intravenously, depending on her condition. Fortunately, her health insurance covered the expenses, so she did not find the cost excessive, reported KhaoSod.