By News18,Sameeksha Sharma

Copyright news18

A bizarre medical case from Turkey has stunned both doctors and the public after it was revealed that a human bite led to a life-threatening infection. The incident, which took place in Istanbul a year ago, involved a 60-year-old shopkeeper who was attacked during a robbery. What initially appeared to be a minor wound turned into a severe infection that was far more dangerous than a typical animal bite.
According to reports, two men entered the shop with the intent to steal. When confronted by the owner, a scuffle broke out. In an attempt to escape, one of the robbers bit the shopkeeper’s arm so hard that it left a deep wound. Initially, the injury was dismissed as minor at a local clinic, and the shopkeeper was sent home after basic treatment.
For a while, he seemed to recover, but three months later his condition worsened. He developed a high fever, shivering, and severe swelling in his arm. By the time he reached the hospital, doctors discovered that the wound had turned into a dangerous bacterial infection. His arm had swollen to almost double its normal size, and the skin had changed colour, raising fears that it might need to be amputated.
The medical team tried various treatments, but the infection did not improve quickly. Finally, doctors resorted to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a specialised treatment that delivers pure oxygen in a pressurised environment to fight infections and speed up healing. Combined with three months of physiotherapy, the therapy eventually saved the man’s arm.
The case was later documented in a scientific journal, drawing attention to the often-overlooked dangers of human bites. Unlike dog or animal bites, human bites can transmit harmful bacteria directly into the bloodstream, leading to infections that are extremely difficult to treat.
Turkish media widely reported the case once it was published, highlighting how an everyday encounter with violence escalated into a near-tragic medical battle. Doctors have now warned that any human bite should be treated seriously, as ignoring it can result in grave complications.