The wound severity of animal bite victims visiting rabies prevention clinics and the influencing factors in Central China: a cross-sectional investigation

Dandan Li,Qiaoyan Liu,Shiyi Cao,Fan Chen,Hanlin Liao,Zuxun Lu,Qingqing Jiang,Tiantian Wang

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-12207-4

Abstract

BackgroundAnimal bites are a major public health problem. The more serious the bite wound is, the higher the risk of developing rabies is. This study aimed to investigate the severity of wounds among animal bite victims and identify the influencing factors in Wuhan, China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 1015 animal bite victims visiting rabies prevention clinics. We performed a face-to-face interview to collect information on the exposure category of the bite wound, the type of the offending animal, exposure-to-risk situations, etc. Factors associated with exposure categories were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsFive hundred and sixty-four (55.57%) cases were category III exposures, 418 (41.18%) were category II exposures, and 33 (3.25%) were category I exposures. People who were hurt by their own domestic animals (odds ratio [OR] = 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14–2.10), and those exposed to animals unvaccinated against rabies (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.08–1.95) had a higher risk for category III exposures. Respondents who did not know the fatality of rabies were more likely to be injured seriously compared to those who knew that rabies is fatal, and the OR was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.05–1.86).ConclusionsThis study showed that factors associated with the severity of bite wounds mainly included types of the offending animal, vaccination status of the animal, and knowledge of rabies fatality. Educational programs and awareness-raising campaigns should be provided to decrease severe animal bites, especially targeting pet owners and those with limited rabies knowledge.

Highlights

Animal bites and bite-associated diseases are considered to be serious health and economic problems all over the world
People who had a habit of playing with animals (OR = 1.63, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.23–2.17), those who were hurt by their own domestic animals (OR = 1.55, 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs): 1.14–2.10), victims exposed to animals unvaccinated against rabies (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.08–1.95), and respondents who did not know that rabies is fatal once the clinical signs are manifested (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.05–1.86) had higher odds for category III exposures
Results showed that people who were hurt by their own domestic animals, victims without the knowledge of rabies fatality, and those exposed to animals unvaccinated against rabies had a higher risk for category III exposures

Summary

Introduction

Animal bites and bite-associated diseases are considered to be serious health and economic problems all over the world. Animal bites may cause secondary infections, permanent disfigurement, disability, and rabies [1,2,3,4]. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the bite wound into three categories according to its severity and recommends wound treatment and rabies vaccination for category II and category III exposures as well as rabies immunoglobulin administration for category III exposures [6]. Animal bites are a major public health problem. The more serious the bite wound is, the higher the risk of developing rabies is. This study aimed to investigate the severity of wounds among animal bite victims and identify the influencing factors in Wuhan, China

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion