Epidemiology of Animal Bite Cases Attending Tertiary Health Care Centre of Bhuj City of India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Animal bite, especially dog bite is significant public health problem in urban India. Socio-cultural practices, myths and beliefs are considered as major problem for post-exposure prophylaxis of animal bites.The aim of this study was to explore epidemiological factors associated with animal bites including dog bite cases reporting at Tertiary Health Care Centre of Bhuj city. It was a cross-sectional study conducted among new cases of animal bites registered at Tertiary Care Centres of Bhuj city. It was found that out of total 119 cases of animal bites majority (49.6%) belonged to 15-45 years of age-group and 70 % were male. Stray dogs were involved in 86% animal bite cases. Half(50.4%) of bites were unprovoked. Category III bites were seen in 76(64 %) of cases. In 81.5% cases lower extremities were affected. Majority 109(94.7%) of cases had received first dose of ARV within 24 hours. Only 63.9% cases had history of wound cleaning at home. It was concluded that local wound treatment immediate after an animal bite is an important basic step in the management of any animal bite case and this was lacking in most of the subjects. Efforts to eliminate the stray dogs are required.