Descriptive profile of patients attending antirabies clinic: a hospital based study of animal bite cases in Patiala

Abstract

Background: The word “Rabies” is derived from Latin word ‘Rabus’, which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Rabhas’ which means ‘to do violence’. In India, the dog has always existed as the main reservoir of rabies. Globally Asia contributes to highest Rabies mortality; with the highest incidence reported in India followed by China.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the antirabies clinic during the period of one year (2016-2017). A self-administered, pretested questionnaire was used to extract information on demographic profile, biting animal, nature of biting dog, vaccination status, WHO category of bite, site of bite. Information of 500 animal bite cases were collected during the study period.Results: Maximum cases were reported among children below 15 years age group i.e. 157 (31.4%). Majority reported cases 342 (68.40%) were males and maximum reported cases 338 (67.60%) were from urban area. Majority 472 (94.4%) were bitten by dogs. Approximately two third (66.74%) of the biting dogs were stray while, among the total 157 (33.26%) pet dogs; approximately only one third 59 (37.58%) were vaccinated.Conclusions: Since young children are more at risk of animal bite. So, educational sessions providing knowledge to protect themselves from bites should be a part of School Health Programme. A cooperative approach involving measures like proper garbage disposal, discouraging community owned dogs, helping dog catching squad and sterilization will help to reduce the dog population.

Demographic Profiles of Animal Bite Cases at a Dedicated Anti-Rabies Hospital in Dhaka City of Bangladesh

“…If used keenly, reports of animal-bite injuries would aid in estimating area-or region-specific disease burden, thus enabling giving priority to improved rabies surveillance and control. Reports of animal-bite victims in the hospitals and health centers are examples of resources for such information 7 .…”

“…In the neighborhood country, approximately 20,000 of an estimated global annual 55,000 rabies deaths occur In India and three-quarters of these deaths occur in rural areas 6 . In addition to causing pain, injury and mental trauma, dogs are the source of rabies in nearly 100.0% cases 7 . As per the policy of the Government of Bangladesh, there should be free anti rabies vaccine for all the dog bite patients from the level of primary health centers under the controlled cold chain.Knowledge about post exposure prophylaxis is essential in the community to seek vaccination after animal bite.…”

An Overview of the Selected Zoonotic Diseases in Pakistan

“…Aristotle first articulated the importance of rabid dog bites in the spread of infection in the fourth century BC, over four thousand years after the Babylonian Code of Eshnunna (2300 BC), which mentions the disease's transmission by dogs. It is mentioned in the ancient Indian holy text Atharvaveda and has been recognized in India since the Vedic era (1500-500 BC) (Chaudhary et al 2020). The first known fatal zoonotic viral disease, rabies, only affects warm-blooded species.…”