Epidemiology of Animal Bites and Pattern of Referral for Post ExposureProphylaxis among Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital inBengaluru - A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Rabies transmitted by animal bites is a devastating disease with 100 fatality rate. As per WHO every year 59000 people die from rabies around the world. India is endemic for rabies with about 20000 deaths per year. It is preventable with early and appropriate treatment with post exposure prophylaxis PEP. However rabies immunoglobulins RIG needed for PEP of Category 3 bites is unequally distributed and such cases are therefore referred to higher centres.Objectives To describe the epidemiology of animal bite patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru and to assess the pattern of referral to tertiary care hospital for post exposure prophylaxis of animal bites.Methodology A record-based cross-sectional study was conducted using case record book at Anti-rabies clinic in Victoria Hospital Bengaluru from June 2021 to December 2021. Information was collected regarding the manner of bite referral and treatment taken.Results There were a total of 1824 cases throughout the study period of which 97.5 of cases were exposed to dogs 86 were category 3 bites. About 71.7 of cases were referred among which 85 were referred only for RIG 34.2 and 23.5 of cases had a delay i.e referred after 24 hours of the bite.Conclusion Majority of cases ware referred only for RIG which had a considerable delay. Hence the health care providers and general public should be made aware of the hazards of rabies and the need to act early to prevent rabies.