Abstract

Background: Worldwide, more than 55,000 people die of rabies every year. 40% of people who are bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age. Dogs are the source of 99% of human rabies deaths. Rabies cases are not rare in Jodhpur. Jodhpur is situated in the North-Western part of Rajasthan. Jodhpur has an overall population of about 3.685 Million (Census-2011) and a literacy Rate of 67 %. Aims &
Objective: The present study was undertaken to determine the age and sex wise distribution of animal bite cases and to find out the distribution of victims on the basis of type of animal exposure and site of bite wounds. st st Material and Methods: The present study was conducted from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2010. The animal bite patients attending the Anti-Rabies Clinic, M. G. Hospital, Jodhpur. The present study is a Hospital based study, carried out by interview and examination of the animal bite victims. The present study was carried out by interview and examination of the animal bite patients (Interview of attendants if the bite victim is a very young children) attending the ARC, M.G. Hospital, Jodhpur.
Results: The study shows that maximum number of animal bite cases 1901 (44.75%) were in the adult males. In case of both the male and female children (less than 15 years age group) maximum number of animal bites 600 (42.46%) and 180 (41.66%) were on the trunk, whereas in case of adult males and adult females the most common site of the bite was lower limbs. Category III bite (exposure) was more common in 3088 (72.69%) cases. The most common biting animal is dog in 4062 (95.62%) cases. Maximum number 831 (19.56%) of animal bite cases have occurred in the 6 to 10 years age group children. Conclusion: The study shows that adult males have higher incidence of animal bite than the adult females. This is due to the more outdoor activity of the males. The most common biting animal is dog and the most common site of bite is lower limbs in adults. The study also shows that Category III bites (exposure) were more common.