Profile Of Victims Research Articles

Study Of Characteristics Of Victims And Alleged Accused In Cases Of Deaths Due To Homicide

Aims and Objectives: Homicide is a cruel act of mankind. It reveals one of the darkest sides of the society. Homicidal crimes represent a reasonable proxy for all different kinds of violent crimes in general. In this modern world violent crimes are being executed professionally. Such criminal activities follow peculiar socio-demographic profiles of victims and the accused involved. The study aimed to find out the different characteristics of victims and perpetrators i.e. alleged accused in homicidal deaths Materials and Methods: The present prospective study was carried out on 179 homicidal deaths at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur over a period from January 2013 to October 2014. The Institutional and Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik ethical committee approved the study protocol. Observation and Results: Male victims were most commonly attacked by acquaintances (argument, quarrel, momentary rage) in 33 (18.44%) cases followed by friends in 28 (15.64%) whereas females by their husbands or In-laws in 13 (7.26%) cases. No victim-assailant relationship could be traced in 73 (40.78%) cases. 64 (35.75%) victims were attacked by a single assailant of which 47 (26.26%) were males and 17 (9.50%) were females followed by by two assailants at a time in 21 (11.73%) cases 16 (8.94%) males and 5 (2.79%) females. Incidences where more than five assailants were involved included only male victims in 7 (3.91%) cases. The numbers of assailants were unknown in 68 (37.99%) cases. Maximum homicidal attacks occurred at or near the victim's house in 54 (30.17%) cases out of which 32 (17.88%) were males and 22 (12.29%) females followed by incidences occurring on the road or streetside in 48 (26.82%) cases. Male victims were commonly attacked on the road or streetside in 45 (25.14%) followed by 32 (17.88%) cases at victims' houses. In contrast, females were commonly attacked at the victim’s house in 22 (12.29%) cases followed by roadside attacks in 03 (1.68%) cases. The main motive behind the homicidal attack was quarrels in 47 (26.26%) cases followed by enmity or revenge in 46 (25.70%). Males were common victims due to quarrel 29 (16.20%) and enmity 24 (13.40%). Cases of sexual assault or illicit sexual relationships were the principal motive behind homicidal attacks on females. Sharp and pointed weapons were most commonly used in executing homicidal attacks in 56 (31.28%) cases followed by hard and blunt in 51(28.49%) cases. Combined blunt and sharp weapons were used in 11(5.03%) cases. Sharp weapons commonly used were knife 37 (20.67%), gupti 18 (10.05%) and axe in 9 (5.02%) cases. Hard and blunt weapons commonly used in this area were stones 29 (16.20%), bricks 15 (8.37%), bamboo sticks 12 (6.70%), iron rods 11 (6.14%), etc. Maximum victims 125 (69.83%) died at the place of homicidal assault or on their way to the hospital. Out of 54 hospitalized victims, 35 (19.55%) died within the first 24 hours. Blunt weapon injuries were common in spot-dead victims whereas sharp weapons were in admitted cases who died later during treatment. In all these cases, stomach contents, blood, and other routine viscera were sent to the forensic science laboratory for chemical analysis. Conclusions: Males outnumbered females in all aspects of Homicidal deaths. Overall specific pattern was observed which could help police investigating authorities in tracing out characteristics of victims and assailants in homicidal deaths reported shortly.

Muertes en prisión: hallazgos toxicológicos en los casos analizados en el Instituto Nacional de Toxicología y Ciencias Forenses (Madrid) en el período 2021–2023

Introductiona 39,5% of violent deaths occurred in Spanish prisons, were drugs related deaths.In this study we assess the role of abuse drugs and prescribed psychoactive drugs in a cohort of prison's deaths cases along three years. Materials and methodsa cohort of 40 cases were received during the period 2021–2023. Each of them was classified following several parameters: sex, age, pathologies, pharmacological treatment, reported cause of death and toxicological analysis (analyzed samples and detected substances following analytical routine). ResultsAn 82,5% of cases submitted (n = 33) were classified as violent deaths: suicide by hanging (39.4%; n = 13) and drug related deaths (60.6%; n = 20). Victim's profile was a man with a mean age of 39.5 years old, who suffered a mental disease and had prescribed a medical treatment mainly with psychoactive drugs.In cases of suicide by hanging, toxicological analysis revealed psychoactive drugs consumption, such as bezodiazepines and GABAergic drugs. On the other hand, in drug related deaths cases, poly-drug consumption involving abuse drugs and prescribed drugs, was prevalent. DiscussionThe whole of violent deaths cases showed a positive toxicologycal result. In regard oh these results, we should highlight the absence of alcohol, and the polyconsumption of prescribed and not prescribed psychoactive drugs involving abuse drugs in those cases where polydrug intoxication was reported as cause of death. Abuse drugs detected corresponded with consumption pattern in Spanish society.

Homicides by offenders with psychotic illness in Italy and Turkiye: A comparison of offender and crime-scene profiles

ObjectiveThe primary aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of homicide cases and their perpetrators with psychotic illnesses in Italy and Turkiye, identifying the extent to which country-specific factors influence offender profiles and crime-scene characteristics. MethodThis cross-national chart review study recruited individuals with psychotic illnesses from forensic psychiatric centers in Italy and Turkiye who were referred for criminal responsibility assessments. Data were collected on the offenders' background characteristics, psychiatric history, victim profiles, and crime-scene details. ResultsCompared to the Italian sample, a higher prevalence of hospitalizations, contact with mental health services, and past offending history prior to the index homicide in the Turkish sample highlight inadequate community mental health care and monitoring systems, as well as insufficient supervision by the criminal justice system in Turkiye. Turkish offenders were less likely to exhibit organized crime scenes and post-crime behavior, with fewer stressors preceding the offense, suggesting a greater role of positive psychotic symptoms in their homicidal acts. ConclusionDespite certain similarities, the differences between the two samples highlight the impact of sociocultural, healthcare, and legal systems on offender profiles and crime-scene characteristics. These findings emphasize the need for tailored mental health services, forensic psychiatric assessments and legal supervision that take into account country-specific factors.

Risk Profile of Stalking in South Korea: Analyzing the First Year of Court Decisions Following Initial Legal Responses.

South Korea implemented specific legislation titled the Act on Punishment of Crimes of Stalking (APCS) on October 21, 2021, to address the issue of stalking. This study evaluated the risks associated with stalking incidents in South Korea by reviewing and analyzing legal cases with finalized judgments within the first year of the APCS. Data were collected through a systematic search of the Korean Supreme Court's Written Judgment Management System database. We identified 193 stalking-related cases between October 21, 2021, and October 14, 2022. These cases were analyzed based on four risk profile criteria: profiles of stalkers and victims, the nature of stalker-victim relationships, motivations behind stalking, and patterns of stalking behavior. Further, we reviewed cases to which the APCS and the Criminal Act applied by analyzing stalker-victim relationships and the stalkers' underlying motivations to assess the risks associated with stalking. Approximately 16.6% of stalkers were diagnosed with mental disorders, the most common disorder being psychosis. The average age of the victims was 42.84 years, with a higher prevalence of female victims compared to male ones. Predominantly, stalkers were former intimate partners of the victims, with most cases motivated by rejection. Direct contact methods, such as physical approaches, have been observed more frequently than indirect methods, such as repeated unwanted messages, or non-contact behaviors, including surveillance and loitering. The findings provide an up-to-date overview of the under-examined criminal stalking issue in South Korea.

Emergency surgery for traumatic brain injury in geriatric patients

Objectives: Verify the sociodemographic profile of an elderly victim of trauma due to a fall who is admitted to the ICU of a public reference hospital to determine whether there are relationships between his age, comorbidities, length of stay, complications and clinical results. A retrospective analytical study with a quantitative approach was carried out between April and October 2014 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, administered by the State Department of Health of the Federal District, DF. Using the TrakCare® computerized medical record, sociodemographic data were found on elderly people hospitalized between the fall of July 2012 and July 2014, including mechanisms of trauma, comorbidities, length of stay, use of invasive devices, vasoactive and sedative drugs, complications and clinical internships. Results: The sample was made up of 52 elderly people, the majority of whom were men and the injury was a fall in height. Lung infection, septic shock, use of blood products and acute renal failure were the main complications. Despite the high mortality observed in the study, the majority of elderly people survived the traumatic event. Male sex, traumatic brain injury (TBI), pulmonary septic shock and dialysis were the main causes of mortality. Conclusion: Falling in height, fractures and severe TBI were extremely common, and most patients had more than one complication during hospitalization. No significant difference was found between age and mortality.

Demographic Profile of Violent Asphyxial deaths in JSS Medical College, Mysuru – Five year retrospective study

The epidemiological risk factors for violent asphyxia deaths can contribute to construct a socioeconomic and demographic profile of victims of asphyxial deaths. This study is also very crucial in identifying the risk factors, triggers for common asphyxia deaths and especially suicidal asphyxial deaths like hanging based on the profile and data derived from this study. This study was undertaken to analyse the different aspects of asphyxial deaths.Main focus is given to study the type of asphyxia, age, sex distribution and seasonal variation, also to know the pattern in work area, seasonal and demographic variations. Among the asphyxial deaths hanging is the commonest which constituted 81% of the total asphyxia deaths and was predominant in males. Drowning is the second most frequent type of asphyxialdeath followed by strangulation. The incidence of hanging is highest during winter season. This suggests that seasonal factors and its resulting psychological fluctuations might aggravate depression and mood, which then might finally impact the victim’s suicidal tendencies leading to increased incidences of hanging.

Crush Syndrome: Biological Profile of Patients Victims of the Al Haouz Earthquake - About 100 Cases

Crush Syndrome: Biological Profile of Patients Victims of the Al Haouz Earthquake - About 100 Cases

Epidemiological profile of polytrauma victims attended in a basic care hospital in the South of Brazil: retrospective cross-sectional study

Background: In the scope of public health, it is fundamental to comprehend the patterns and characteristics of the patients attended in hospitals for the guidance about prevention and intervention policies. In this perspective, the present study aims to evaluate the epidemiological profile of polytrauma victims who were assisted in a basic care hospital, located in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during the period of January 1st to December 31th of 2022. The importance of studying the mechanism of trauma lies in the fact that it is the main cause of fatality in the population between 1 and 44 years old and represents a total of 5.8 million deaths annually in Brazil. Methods: The methodology consists of a retrospective cross-sectional study based on the analysis of hospital records, identifying patterns of gender, age, type of injury, modes of damage and outcome of the attended patients. Results: Based on the data collected, it was observed a predominance of the male gender among the polytrauma victims, with a significant incidence of assistance resulting from motor vehicle collisions, corroborating with previous epidemiological evidence. Conclusion: The epidemiological profile of polytraumatized patients is male, aged 41 and victims of traffic accidents. Therefore, urges the need to develop preventive and interventionist measures in relation to the causal factors of polytrauma, such as road infrastructure and alcohol use. In addition, the study was limited by the fact that it did not investigate the use of alcohol by the drivers, and the license status.

Tráfico de mulheres para fins de exploração sexual

Trafficking in persons is considered to be the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or a position of vulnerability or of giving or receiving payments or benefits to obtain consent for a person to have control over another person, for the purpose of exploration. The choice of this theme is justified because it provides a focus on an invisible crime. The general objective of this work is to present an analysis of the trafficking of women for sexual exploitation, dealing with the concept of this crime, the challenges to identify the people involved and the understanding of this inhumane crime. Specifically, the objective was to investigate the phenomenon of trafficking in persons, identify the profile of the main victims, highlight the means most used by traffickers, in addition to presenting the main measures that must be taken so that national and international authorities can face this type of crime efficiently, in addition to what they can do to prevent and effectively confront it. Human trafficking is the third most profitable illicit business in the world, after drugs and weapons. This practice occurs in all countries, with women, children and adolescents as the main victims. The countries most affected by human trafficking for sexual exploitation are those marked by poverty, political instability, and economic inequalities. The methodology used for the construction of this work was a bibliographical, documentary and descriptive study, with an inductive method where emphasis was placed on authors who have authority and renown on the subject studied. It is concluded that, although there has been an evolution of the Brazilian legislation for trafficking in persons, inserting this practice in the list of crimes against individual freedom, going through a new treatment that reveals the concern with the protection and promotion of human rights, in addition to respect for the principle of human dignity, much still needs to be done in the actions to confront this crime.

Epidemiological, clinical and psychological aspects of victims of female child sexual abuse in the gynaecology and obstetrics department of tertiary hospital, Karnataka

Child sexual abuse is an alarming reality that although is recognized as a serious violation of human well-being and of the law often goes unreported or overlooked. The present study was planned to identify the clinic-social profile of victims of child sexual abuse, circumstances under which these heinous crimes have occurred and study the psychological status of the victims. A retrospective record-based study from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021 conducted in a tertiary care hospital of north Karnataka, India. All the female patients aged less than 18 years admitted during our investigation period who were victims of child sexual abuse were included in the study. All case reports obtained from the medical record division and fulfilling the inclusion criteria were scrutinized by the authors for completeness of data. The data was entered in MS excel master sheet and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 22. A total of 158 victims of female child sexual abuse were documented in our centre. The age of the victims ranged from 1 to 17 years and that of abusers varied from 15 years to 75 years. For most incidents, the offenders were known to the victims. The highest incidence of sexual assault was reported in abusers’ home, followed by victim’s home. Majority of the female children were abused multiple times (45.6%). There is an urgent need for comprehensive prevention programs, awareness campaigns, accessible support services, public awareness campaigns and legal enhancements to address CSA effectively in schools and communities that educate children on recognizing and reporting abuse.

Change in Depression Severity Among Depressed Older Crime Victims.

The crime rates in urban centers are rising. The psychological impact of crime can range from distress to longstanding mental health impairment. Despite the rising crime rates and psychological impact on victims, little research has been conducted on older adult crime victims' mental health. In this manuscript we describe the profile of older adult crime victims in New York City referred for mental health services, their rates of depression, and the preliminary outcome data from a brief therapy intervention (PROTECT) targeting depression among victims. Building on prior research demonstrating the efficacy of PROTECT for depressive symptom reduction in elder abuse victims, the present study hypothesized elder crime victims who completed PROTECT therapy would demonstrate clinically meaningful depression symptom reduction as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Additionally, it was hypothesized that these clinically significant depression symptom reductions would be demonstrated regardless of sex, gender, victimization type, victimization frequency, or living status. The results demonstrate that 67.7% (21/31) of participants had a clinically significant reduction in PHQ-9 scores (≥5 points) upon completion of PROTECT. There were no significant group differences in clinically significant depression symptom reduction, suggesting that PROTECT is an effective intervention for a diverse sample of elder crime victims. Future research should focus on the mental health impact of crime against older adults and explore reductions in anxiety and PTSD symptoms among crime victims. Through our partnerships we aim to bridge the divide between victim service providers, and mental health service providers to assist victims to recover, heal, and thrive.

Self-reported health profiles of trauma victims with and without psychiatric histories.

This study examined associations between self-reported trauma exposure and physical health status after control of variance associated with psychiatric disturbance. Physical and mental health diagnoses were examined among participants with and without histories of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). College (n = 2,320) and national (n = 663) respondents were surveyed to identify trauma histories defined using the primary DSM-5 diagnostic criterion for PTSD. Respondents also identified lifetime diagnoses for a range of medical and psychiatric conditions. They were also asked to provide a self-assessment of their own current physical health status using a ten-point scaling metric. Support was found for all three hypotheses: (H1) Self-identified trauma was associated with higher prevalence rates for 16 of 18 medical diagnoses; (H2) PTSD diagnoses were associated with higher prevalence rates than trauma alone for 6 of 16 medical conditions; and (H3) Self-reported trauma was associated with higher prevalence rates for 7 of 18 medical conditions among respondents who denied psychiatric histories. Trauma exposure both with and without co-occurring psychiatric illness was associated with substantially higher rates of self-reported physical illness. Practitioners and researchers should recognize the potential significance of self-identified trauma and the range of potential biosocial implications that may warrant monitoring.

A Study of the Profiles of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in an Algerian Cohort

A Study of the Profiles of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in an Algerian Cohort

Lost years, mortality burden: the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on premature death due to road traffic accidents in a northern state in Malaysia

BackgroundThis study addresses the persistent global burden of road traffic fatalities, particularly in middle-income countries like Malaysia, by exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Road Traffic Accident (RTA) fatalities in Perak state, Malaysia, with a secondary focus on applying Years of Life Lost (YLL) to understand the implications of these premature deaths.MethodologyThe cross-sectional study retrospectively reviewed certified RTA fatalities from 2018 to 2021, individually counting fatalities in accidents and excluding cases with incomplete death profiles. Data were collected from all Forensic Departments in the government hospitals in Perak. RTA fatalities were confirmed by medical officers/physicians following established procedures during routine procedures. A total of 2517 fatal accident and victim profiles were transcribed into data collection form after reviewing death registration records and post-mortem reports. Inferential analyses were used for comparison between pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic. The standard expected YLL was calculated by comparing the age of death to the external standard life expectancy curve taking into consideration of age and gender in Malaysia.ResultsThis study included 2207 (87.7%) of the RTA fatalities in Perak State. The analysis revealed a decreasing trend in RTA deaths from 2018 to 2021, with a remarkable Annual Percent Change (APC) of -25.1% in 2020 compared to the pre-pandemic year in 2019 and remained stable with lower APC in 2021. Comparison between pre-pandemic (2018–2019) and pandemic years (2020–2021) revealed a difference in the fatality distribution with a median age rise during the pandemic (37.7 (IQR: 22.96, 58.08) vs. 41.0 (IQR: 25.08, 61.00), p = 0.002). Vehicle profiles remained consistent, yet changes were observed in the involvement of various road users, where more motorcycle riders and pedestrian were killed during pandemic (p = 0.049). During pandemic, there was a decline in vehicle collisions, but slight increase of the non-collision accidents and incidents involving pedestrians/animals (p = 0.015). A shift in accident from noon till midnight were also notable during the pandemic (p = 0.028). YLL revealed differences by age and gender, indicating a higher YLL for females aged 30–34 during the pandemic.ConclusionThe decline in RTA fatalities during COVID-19 pandemic underscores the influence of pandemic-induced restrictions and reduced traffic. However, demographic shifts, increased accident severity due to risky behaviors and gender-specific impacts on YLL, stress the necessity for improved safety interventions amidst evolving dynamics.

Profiles of Family and School Experiences and Adjustment of Adolescents During the Transition to High School.

Although family and school experiences play an important role in adolescents' adjustment during the transition to high school, most prior studies investigated the effects of these experiences in isolation; their joint implications for both adolescents' concurrent and long-term adjustment outcomes are less clear, and the potential role of individual characteristics within such associations remains understudied. Based on 525 10th graders (Mage = 15.48, SDage = 0.71, 43.6% boys) who participated in a longitudinal study, the present research aimed to identify distinct family and school experience profiles among first-year high school students and examine their associations with adolescents' internalizing problems and externalizing problems, both concurrently and 18 months later. Latent profile analysis revealed four distinctive profiles: thriving, low resources-moderate family risk, developmental stress-high parental conflicts, and developmental stress-high peer victimization profiles. The other three profiles (vs. the thriving profile) reported significantly higher levels of concurrent internalizing problems; while these differences diminished after 18 months. However, the enduring impacts of these profiles on internalizing problems persisted among adolescents with higher levels of environmental sensitivity. Additionally, adolescents characterized by two developmental stress profiles (vs. the thriving profile) exhibited significantly higher levels of externalizing problems both currently and longitudinally. Findings underscore the importance of identifying at-risk populations among adolescents during the transition to high school by including both family and school experiences when examining environmental influence on their adjustment, as well as the necessity to take individual environmental sensitivity into account when examining these associations.

Proarrhythmic drugs, drug levels, and polypharmacy in victims of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome: An autopsy-based study from Denmark

BackgroundSudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS), characterized by an unknown or inconclusive cause of death at autopsy together with a negative or nonlethal toxicology screening result, is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in victims younger than 35 years. The complete causality of SADS remains unclear, with drugs being a potential risk factor. ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe the toxicologic profiles of SADS victims, focusing on proarrhythmic drugs, drug levels, and polypharmacy. MethodsAll deaths in Denmark of those aged 1–35 years in 2000–2019 and 36–49 years in 2007–2019 were examined through death certificates, national registries, and autopsy reports with toxicology screenings. We investigated all sudden unexpected death victims with an autopsy performed, including negative or nonlethal drug findings, where cause of death was unknown or inconclusive (SADS). ResultsWe identified 477 SADS victims; 313 (66%) had a positive toxicology screening result (adjudicated nonlethal), with an average of 2.8 drugs per case. More than half of the SADS victims with a positive toxicology screening result had QT-prolonging or brugadogenic drugs present. Polypharmacy was present in 66%, psychotropic polypharmacy in 37%, and QT-prolonging polypharmacy in 22%, with the most frequent overall and QT-prolonging drug combination being an antipsychotic and a psychoanaleptic drug. QT-prolonging drugs were more often present at suprapharmacologic levels than non–QT-prolonging drugs. ConclusionThe majority of the SADS population had a positive toxicology screening result, with a notably large proportion having proarrhythmic drugs and polypharmacy. This highlights the need for future focus on drugs as a risk factor for SADS.

Meaning in life as a moderator of the relationship between bullying victimization profiles and life satisfaction in young adolescents

AbstractLatent profiles of bullying victimization were examined to determine membership information and distinctive buffering roles of meaning in life between bullying victimization groups and life satisfaction. The PISA data set (n = 4695) of 15‐year‐old young adolescents was analyzed. Static predictors of membership consist of gender, immigrant status, parental education, and grade repetition. Latent profile analysis, analysis of variance, multiple logistic regression, and multivariable regression were utilized for a comprehensive understanding of bullying victimization memberships and related outcomes. Three distinctive latent profiles emerged: (a) Stable & Resilient (SR) (75.6%); (b) Mild & Internal (MI) (18.4%); and (c) Severe & External (SE) (6.0%). Immigration, gender, grade repetition, and parental education were found to be predictors of membership in the bullying victimization groups. Males, and immigrants, with higher parental education, and grade repetition experience significantly predicted increases in possibilities of membership in the MI or SE latent groups. Meaning in life has significant buffering roles for bullying victimization on life satisfaction. The moderating effect of meaning in life was strongest for the SE group. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Clinico-Epidemiological Profile, Trends, and Health-Related Outcomes of Snakebite Victims: A One-Year Prospective Study from Eastern India.

Snakebite envenomation is a significant life-threatening public health problem in Southeast Asia (SEA). In this region, India reported the largest number of snakebite deaths from 2000 to 2019 (1.2 million), with an average of 58,000 deaths yearly. This prospective observational study was carried out among snakebite victims at the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care public sector hospital in eastern India. A total of 145 cases of venomous snakebite were investigated. More than half (n = 81, 56%) of the snakebite victims were between 17 to 45 years. Most of the snakebite victims were male (68%) and were farmers (53%) by occupation. The majority of snakebites occurred during the daytime (76%) and while outdoors (67%). Most victims sustained a bite on the lower extremity (71%). The peak incidence of snakebites occurred from June to September (69%). Three-quarters of all patients were unaware of the required first aid measures following a snakebite. Among the 145 venomous snakebites, 48 were presumptively identified as the Indian cobra, 32 by the Indian krait, 56 by the Russel's viper, and 9 by saw-scaled viper. The mean duration from the snakebite to the onset of systemic effects in the Indian cobra was 52 ± 14.28 min, 66 ± 18.35 min in the Indian krait, 42 ± 13.47 min in Russel's viper, and 48 ± 16.38 min in saw-scaled viper. Respiratory failure was the commonly observed complication following an elapid envenomation. The mortality rate was 2.1% among the patients treated with antivenom. Snakebite is considered an occupational hazard in India, commonly affecting the young population in their productive period. The peak incidence was during monsoon season, and the majority had neurotoxic envenomation following an elapid bite (55%) that contributed to the increased mortality and morbidity among young adults. Of the 145 patients, the majority (84%) recovered fully with treatment; 16% of the victims developed morbidity viz cellulitis, respiratory failure, acute renal failure, compartment syndrome, local tissue necrosis, intracerebral hemorrhage, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Appropriate first aid measures and timely medical intervention can significantly improve the treatment outcome following snakebites.

Profile of Facial Trauma Victims of Motorcycle Accidents: A Prospective Study.

To outline the profile of patients with facial trauma, victims of motorcycle accidents, treated at the Hospital da Restauração, Recife/PE, Brazil, from December 2020 to July 2021. The collection was carried out through questionnaire and analysis of medical records. Data were analyzed descriptively, as well as Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Among the patients, 88.6% were male, 47.5% were between 18 and 29 years old, and 59.6% lived in rural areas; 72.15% of the victims used the motorcycle for work and 43.52% were working at the time of the accident. Most victims did not have a national motorcycle license (62%) and were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident (60%), with 37.6% wearing a full-face helmet, 16.5% an open helmet, and 5.9% an articulated full-face helmet. Soft tissue injuries were the most prevalent. Zygomatic complex fractures were the most common facial fractures and were significantly associated with helmet use and type. Most victims of motorcycle accidents are young adult men, without a regular driver's license and residing in rural areas. Preventive and educational actions and continuous traffic inspections are necessary to minimize these accidents.

Epidemiological profile of animal bite victims attending anti-rabies clinic in a tertiary care hospital in eastern Rajasthan: An observational study

Abstract Background: India has been classified by the World Health Organization as an endemic country with the highest incidence of rabies-related deaths globally. Therefore, any instance of a dog or wild animal bite is considered a potential exposure to rabies. The National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination emphasizes the importance of formulating state and district-level action plans tailored to local circumstances and evidence. A cross-sectional study analyzed the epidemiological traits of animal bites reported at the anti-rabies clinic of a tertiary hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted at Sawai Man Singh Medical Hospital in Jaipur, India, from September to October 2022. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the socio-demographic and epidemiological features of animal bites from a sample of 328 victims. Descriptive statistics and a spatial map were employed to analyze the results. Results: Among animal bite victims, 73% were males, and 35% fell within the age group of 5–18 years. The majority of cases, accounting for 92%, were categorized as category III exposure, with 61% of the victims being bitten on their lower limbs. Dogs were responsible for 76% of the bites, while monkeys accounted for 21%. Approximately 74% of dog bites were inflicted by stray dogs, and 82% of these incidents were unprovoked. Conclusion: The study highlights a higher prevalence of category III exposure and monkey bites compared to previous research, along with subpar adherence to prior immunizations. Most animal bite incidents were observed in public areas, particularly on streets and tourist destinations. These findings emphasize the importance of customizing district and state action plans to the specific context in Rajasthan to combat rabies effectively.