scholarly journals Dog bite safety at work: An injury prevention perspective on reported occupational dog bites in the UK

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 595-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara C. Owczarczak-Garstecka ◽  
Rob Christley ◽  
Francine Watkins ◽  
Huadong Yang ◽  
Beverley Bishop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dog Bite ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 66-66
Author(s):  
Rebecca Schofield ◽  
James A. Oxley ◽  
Carri Westgarth

The UK is well known for being a nation of dog lovers and recent evidence has shown the positive impact owning a dog can have on human health and wellbeing. However, for people who have experienced a dog bite injury, this can be quite a different story.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
H de Berker ◽  
J Zhao ◽  
A Souéid

Abstract Introduction There has been a substantial increase in dog ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic, in part due to national lockdowns prompting many to seek canine companionship. Published studies from the US have associated this with increased paediatric presentations with dog-bites to the emergency department (ED). However, this has yet to be elucidated in the UK. Method All attendances to ED and referrals to our regional paediatric plastic surgery service with paediatric dog-bites between 23/03/2020 and 01/06/2020 (UK national lockdown) were compared with the same period in 2019 (control). The location of bites and total ED attendances were also collected. Chi-squared test was used to determine statistical significance, p ≤ 0.05 taken as significant. Results Fewer overall paediatric attendances to ED were noted between the lockdown period compared to control (4429 vs 9620). Similarly, fewer children presented with dog-bites during lockdown compared to control (25 vs 45). Proportionally, this data represents 5.6 bites per 1,000 ED attendances during lockdown vs 4.7 during the control period (p = 0.44). Facial bites were more common during lockdown accounting for 60% vs 47% in the control period (p = 0.28). Conclusions Despite reports of increased dog ownership, our findings do not demonstrate significantly more paediatric dog-bite presentations. Although not statistically significant, more facial bites were noted during lockdown. We speculate this may be due to parents presenting with self-perceived more “serious” injuries. Thorough research and careful consideration are essential prior to bringing a new dog into a home with young children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 296-296
Author(s):  
Rebecca Schofield ◽  
James A. Oxley ◽  
Carri Westgarth

The UK is well known for being a nation of dog lovers and recent evidence has shown the positive impact owning a dog can have on human health and wellbeing. However, for people who have experienced a dog bite injury, this can be quite a different story.


Author(s):  
Hasan Alwan Baiee ◽  
Weli Hatif

Dog bites are common and can affect victims of different ages.Dog bite injuries in children are a preventable health problem.Dog bites are a serious health problem that cause both physical and emotional damage to victims and considerable cost to communities. Studies on dog bites among Iraqi children were very scarce.This study focuses on theincidence,mechanisms,and epidemiologicalcircumstances ofdog biteinjuriesin a series of pediatric patients who sustained dog bites in emergency Room. MethodologyA cross sectional study was designed to studyall cases of dog bites attending the emergency room in AL-Showmely General Hospital located in the southern district – Babylon province-Iraq, during the period ; from the January, first,2017 through theend of March, 2018.Special constructed were prepared to collect data through interview of victims or their companions who attended the emergency section during this period,ethical clearances were obtained.*A total of 320 children presented to the hospital with dog bite injuries.The incidence rate of dog bites was 275 per 100000 population, the male to female ratio was 3:1.the most common dog bite injuries took place in September44 (13.75%). Injury rates were highest in those aged 0-4,declining thereafter with age. In the 6-10, year age group141 (44.1%), most of cases living in rural district (villages). The most affected location were lower limbs, only 3.4% of the injured children had completed the post exposure anti rabies vaccine. Dog bites are common health problem among children,Children who are younger than 10 years represent the high-risk group for dog attacks. very few of them had complete the prophylactic post exposure vaccine Therefore, prevention strategies should focus on public education,training health care providers and controlling stray dogs.


Author(s):  
Bernhard Kienesberger ◽  
Christoph Arneitz ◽  
Vanessa Wolfschluckner ◽  
Christina Flucher ◽  
Peter Spitzer ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study focuses on the impact of a prevention program regarding dog bites in children. As a consequence of our previous investigation in 2005, we have initiated a child safety program for primary school children starting January 2008 until present to teach children how to avoid dog attacks and how to behave in case of an attack. In our retrospective study, we analyzed all patients younger than 15 years presenting with dog-related injuries between 2014 and 2018. As the main indicator for success of the prevention measures taken, we have defined the severity of injury in comparison to our previous study. Out of 296 children with dog-related injuries, 212 (71.6%) had sustained a dog bite. In the vast majority (n = 195; 92%), these patients presented with minor injuries; the extremities were most commonly affected (n = 100; 47%). Injuries to the head (n = 95; 45%) and trunk (n = 18; 8%) were less frequent. The proportion of severe injuries (8%) was significantly lower compared to our previous study, where 26% of children presented with severe injuries necessitating surgical intervention, while the number of patients requiring in-hospital treatment declined from 27.5% in the period 1994–2003 to 9.0% in the period between 2014 and 2018 (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Teaching of primary school children may effectively reduce the injury severity of dog bites. What is Known:• Dog bites are a substantial healthcare problem especially in children. What is New:• This study shows that a broad-based prevention program for primary school children can effectively decrease the severity but not the frequency of dog bite injuries in children.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Md Waliur Rahman ◽  
◽  
Md Habibullah Sarkar ◽  
Samir Kumar Talukder ◽  
Md Joynal Abedin ◽  
...  

Introduction: Dog bites in humans are a major public health problem. Globally, millions of people are bitten by dogs but most of the fatal cases occur in children. Dog bites in human are a serious public health problem and have been well documented worldwide. As rabies is not a notifiable disease in Bangladesh and most deaths occur in rural areas where surveillance is poor. Objectives: To determine the pattern of dog bite injuries and associated health problems among children. Methods: The study was an observational retrospective study carried out at the Dept. of General Surgery, Chuadanga Sadar Hospital, Chuadanga, Bangladesh. The study reviewed the clinical data of patients managed for dog bite related injuries and rabies over a four and half year period between January 2016 and June 2020. A proforma was designed to extract relevant clinical data from the case records. Information extracted included the age, sex of the victims, site of the bite, time of presentation in the hospital, pre-hospital treatment, hospital treatment including post-exposure prophylaxis and complication. Results: In all, 200 cases of dog bite injuries were managed constituting 0.89% of the total consultations; 5 (2.5%) had rabies. Most of the victims were aged 6-12 years (55.0%) and majority (67.0%) was boys. Eighty two percent of the victims presented within 24hrs of the injury. 92 (46.0%) had WHO grade 3 dog bite injury at presentation and the lower limb was the commonest (56.0%) bite site. Use of herbal preparation was the most common pre-hospital treatment 60%. Although 95.0% received anti-rabies vaccine, only 55.5% of them completed the vaccination schedule. The case fatality rate for dog bite was 5.0%. The 5 that died all presented late, had no post exposure prophylaxis and died within 24 hours of admission. Conclusion: There is need for public enlightenment on dangers associated with dog bites and also for the government to ensure vaccination for cost of post exposure prophylaxis treatment for children free of cost


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 891-895
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. Sacks ◽  
Randall Lockwood ◽  
Janet Hornreicht ◽  
Richard W. Sattin

Objectives. To update data on fatal dog bites and see if past trends have continued. Design. To merge data from vital records, the Humane Society of the United States, and searches of electronic news files. Setting. United States. Subjects. U.S. residents dying in the U.S. from 1989 through 1994 from dog bites. Results. We identified 109 dog bite-related fatalities, of which 57% were less than 10 years of age. The death rate for neonates was two orders of magnitude higher than for adults and the rate for children one order of magnitude higher. Of classifiable deaths, 22% involved an unrestrained dog off the owner's property, 18% involved a restrained dog on the owner's property, and 59% involved an unrestrained dog on the owner's property. Eleven attacks involved a sleeping infant; 19 dogs involved in fatal attacks had a prior history of aggression; and 19 of 20 classifiable deaths involved an unneutered dog. Pit bulls, the most commonly reported breed, were involved in 24 deaths; the next most commonly reported breeds were rottweilers (16) and German shepherds (10). Conclusions. The dog bite problem should be reconceptualized as a largely preventable epidemic. Breedspecific approaches to the control of dog bites do not address the issue that many breeds are involved in the problem and that most of the factors contributing to dog bites are related to the level of responsibility exercised by dog owners. To prevent dog bite-related deaths and injuries, we recommend public education about responsible dog ownership and dog bite prevention, stronger animal control laws, better resources for enforcement of these laws, and better reporting of bites. Anticipatory guidance by pediatric health care providers should address dog bite prevention.


2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 331-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carri Westgarth ◽  
Megan Brooke ◽  
Robert M Christley

BackgroundDog bite studies are typically based on hospital records and may be biased towards bites requiring significant medical treatment. This study investigated true dog bite prevalence and incidence at a community-level and victim-related risk factors, in order to inform policy and prevention.MethodsA cross-sectional study of a community of 1280 households in Cheshire, UK, surveyed 694 respondents in 385 households. Data included dog ownership and bite history, demographics, health and personality (Ten Item Personality Inventory (TIPI) brief measure). Multivariable logistic regression modelled risk factors for having ever been bitten by a dog, accounting for clustering of individuals within households.ResultsA quarter of participants (24.78%, 95% CI 21.72 to 28.13) reported having ever been bitten by a dog during their lifetime, with only a third of bites described requiring further medical treatment and 0.6% hospital admission. Incidence of dog bites was 18.7 (11.0–31.8) per 1000 population per year. Males were 1.81 times more likely to have been bitten in their lifetime than females (95% CI 1.20 to 2.72, P=0.005). Current owners of multiple dogs were 3.3 times more likely (95% CI 1.13 to 9.69, P=0.03) to report having been bitten than people not currently owning a dog. Regarding all bites described, most commonly people were bitten by a dog that they had never met before the incident (54.7%). Individuals scoring higher in emotional stability had a lower risk of having ever been bitten (OR=0.77 for 1 point change in scale between 1 and 7, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.9, P=0.001).ConclusionThis study suggests that the real burden of dog bites is considerably larger than those estimated from hospital records. Further, many bites do not require medical treatment and hospital-based bite data are not representative of bites within the wider population. Victim personality requires further investigation and potential consideration in the design of bite prevention schemes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. Tuckel ◽  
William Milczarski

Abstract Background In 2018, the most recent year for which data are available, dog bites ranked as the 13th leading cause of nonfatal emergency department visits in the United States. As dog ownership spirals upwards in the United States, it is important to continue to monitor the epidemiology of dog bite injuries. This study provides contemporary data on the incidence of dog bites injuries in the United States and in New York and profiles individuals who have been treated for dog bites in emergency departments. The study also examines the demographic correlates of the rate of injuries at the neighborhood level in New York City and maps the rate in each neighborhood. Methods At the national level, the study examines longitudinal data on dog bite injuries from 2005 to 2018 gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For New York, the study analyzes data for 2005–2018 collected by the New York State Department of Health. A negative binomial regression analysis was performed on the state data to measure the simultaneous effects of demographic variables on the incidence of dog-related injuries. A thematically shaded map of the rate of dog bite injuries in New York City’s neighborhoods was created to identify neighborhoods with higher-than-average concentration of injuries. Results In both the United States and New York the rate of dog-bite injuries increased from 2005 to 2011 and then underwent a significant decline. Injuries due to dog bites, however, still remain a sizable public health problem. Injuries are more prevalent among school-age children, inhabitants of less-densely populated areas, and residents of poorer neighborhoods. In New York City, poorer neighborhoods are also associated with fewer dogs being spayed or neutered. Conclusions To reduce the rate of dog bite injuries, prevention programs – particularly those which center on teaching the dangers of canine interactions with humans – should be targeted at children. Dog bite injuries tend to be clustered in identifiable neighborhoods. Dog bite prevention programs and stricter enforcement of dog laws can target these neighborhoods.


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