Bite Marks: Why Some Teens Are Biting Instead of Giving Hickies

We all know that the vampire craze has teenagers everywhere wanting to either sparkle or sprout fangs. Movies like Twilight and shows like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries have people everywhere obsessed with all things vampire. So is a bite mark the new hickie?

Who's Biting Who?

Teenagers in high school have started a new trend where they bite each other instead of giving each other hickies, or to show they care about each other. It's even now a kind of status symbol to have a bite mark on your body.

According to CNN.com "High schoolers say it's a way to show someone you care about them and that you are chosen- just like in the movies. Bite marks have now even started to be a status symbol. Teens are sporting these bites and their arms, necks, and even faces."

Are human bites dangerous?

According to healthservices.com "A human bite can often be as dangerous or more dangerous than animal bites because of the types of bacteria and viruses contained in the human mouth. The most common complication of a human bite is infection. Both medical and surgical management may be required to treat a human bite."

I've always been told by doctors and my mom when I was a kid, that if I got bitten by another human, I would have to go and get a tetanus shot or a booster shot if it had been more than 7 years since my last one. Human bites can be very dangerous and should be taken seriously.

Signs of infection.

If you or someone you know gets bitten by another human, you will want to watch for signs of infection and if you see these signs, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Increased swelling, redness, or tenderness at the site of the bite.
Pus coming from the bite mark.
Red streaks or a feeling of heat extending from the bite.
If the wound does not heal within 10 days.

While this is a fairly new trend, it is happening around the country and high schoolers are going to be seeing it happen to their friends and want to become part of the in-crowd and may also end up doing it. It could be dangerous and lead to health problems so parents should be aware of this and talk to their teens about biting each other.

Sources:

http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/06/bite-marks-the-new-hickey/

http://www.healthservices.uwaterloo.ca/occupationalhealth/humanbites.html