Abstract
Introduction: Rabies is a neglected tropical disease that is highly fatal and yet it is under-reported in the developing countries like Nigeria. The domestic dog is the primary reservoir host as well as the most important source of infection usually conveyed by saliva through bites. Aim: This study sought to determine the frequency and outcome of dog bite injury and clinical rabies presented to the Accident and Emergency unit of Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Methods: This retrospective hospital-based study reviewed the medical records of all patients with dog bite who presented over an eight-year period from August 2014 to July 2022. Rabies virus infection was diagnosed on clinical basis. A structured proforma was used to extract relevant information and data was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21. Result: Mean and median age was 27.03 ± 10.98 and 29 years respectively, range of 2 - 47 years and 11 (73.3%) were males. There were 15 cases of dog bite out of 17,187 patients making frequency of 1.14 per 1000 persons constituting 0.09% or about 2 cases yearly. Seven (46.7%) of this total number had clinical rabies infection with 7 (100.0%) mortality. All 7 (100.0%) with clinical rabies had a furious (encephalitic) form. Rabies immunoglobulin was prescribed in 8 (53.3%), 6 (40.0%) received them while 13 (86.7%) received post-exposure rabies vaccine. Conclusion: Dog bite is an uncommon reason for Accident and Emergency visit in our facility with male preponderance. However, about 46.7% of the dog bite victims developed clinical symptoms suggestive of furious (encephalitic) form of rabies with 100.0% fatality.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
