English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Monkeys are responsible for 2-21% of all animal bite injuries. Monkey bites are second only to the dog bites as represented in India. Control of animal rabies is central to the prevention of human disease. Thus, prophylaxis (for domestic animals and selected humans) and PET remain essential to the prevention of clinical rabies. METHODS Patients presenting to the outpatient and emergency department with the complaint of monkey bite were enrolled in the study. All particulars of patients, history and examination findings were recorded in the clinical proforma after taking proper informed consent. Wounds were categorized based on WHO guide to postexposure prophylaxis. Local treatment consisted of two parts: first aid and wound management. ARV was administered in category II and III exposures in accordance to the intradermal schedule. Data was analysed for clinical information such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, timing & site of bite, categories of contact and treatment given. RESULTS In our study of 68 patients, 24 (35.3%) were males and 44 (64.7%) were females. Majority of the patients belonged to the age group of 11-40 years in both male (n=20; 83.33%) and female (n=34; 77.27%) patients. Mean age group of patients in the study was 28.29 years. This generally reflects the greater exposure of young adults to the monkeys. Based on modified Kuppuswamy scale, most patients belonged to the class III (n=36; 52.9%) followed by class IV (n=16; 23.5%). All the patients sustaining bites from monkeys were vaccinated. Majority of the bites involved the lower extremities (n=31; 45.6%) followed by upper extremities (n=27; 39.7%). Based on WHO guidelines for wound categories, most patients belonged to category II (n=49; 72.1%) followed by category III (n=19; 27.9%). CONCLUSIONS In our study, we found that majority of patients sustaining monkey bites were young adults and belonged to lower middle & upper lower class. There was no difference with respect to gender. Most common sites of monkey bite were upper & lower extremities and belonged to WHO category II. No cases of rabies were observed in our study. KEY WORDS Almora, Monkey, Simian, Animal, Bite, Rabies, Immunization, Prophylaxis, Treatment