Dog-bite Injuries in Korea and Risk Factors for Significant Dog-bite Injuries: A 6-year Cross-sectional Study

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2019 Feb 22

PMID 30789915

Citations 14

Authors

Joong Wan Park

Do Kyun Kim

Jae Yun Jung

Se Uk Lee

Ikwan Chang

Young Ho Kwak

Soyun Hwang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: An accurate understanding of the current status of dog-bite injuries in Korea is essential for establishing preventive strategies. There have been no national reports about dog-bite injuries in Korea. This study investigated dog-bite injuries in Korea that were registered in the nationwide injury surveillance database and analysed the risk factors for significant dog-bite injury.

Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted using the emergency department (ED)-based Injury In-depth Surveillance (EDIIS) registry in Korea between 2011 and 2016. We defined significant injury as death, admission, surgery, or fracture or amputation. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to obtain the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for the factors associated with significant dog-bite injuries.

Results: Among 1,537,617 injured patients, 9,966 (6.5 per 1,000 injured patients) presented to the ED for dog-bite injuries (5.6 in 2011 to 7.6 in 2016, P for trend < 0.001), and 489 (4.9%) were significant injuries. In the age-specific analysis, there were increasing trends only among teenagers (12-18 years) and adults (> 18 years). Being elderly (≥ 60 years) (aOR: 2.70, 95% CI: 2.15-3.39), having injuries to multiple anatomic sites (aOR: 4.37, 95% CI: 2.96-6.45), being bitten outdoors (aOR: 2.71, 95% CI: 2.20-3.34), and being bitten by a relative's dog (aOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.09-5.17) were strongly associated with significant dog-bite injury.

Conclusion: Dog-bite injuries are increasing in Korea, especially in teenagers and adults. A relative's or neighbour's dog may be more dangerous than a stranger's dog. Preventive strategies are needed to prevent dog-bite injuries in adults and children.

Citing Articles

Age group analysis of patients with dog bite injuries who visited a single regional emergency medical center and factors affecting wound infections.

Kang D, Choi J, Choi W, Jang J, Cho J, Hyun S J Trauma Inj. 2024; 35(2):84-91.

PMID: 39381177 PMC: 11309181. DOI: 10.20408/jti.2021.0046.

Time-series analysis of meteorological factors and emergency department visits due to dog/cat bites in Jinshan area, China.

Pang P, Zhou X, Hu Y, Zhang Y, He B, Xu G PeerJ. 2024; 12:e16758.

PMID: 38250715 PMC: 10800098. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16758.

Medical and legal evaluation of injuries due to dog bites: a Türkiye study.

Vural T, Erbas M, Karaca Baysal I Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2024; 30(1):43-49.

PMID: 38226579 PMC: 10977485. DOI: 10.14744/tjtes.2024.77550.

A 10-year retrospective analysis (2012-2021) of hospitalizations resulting from dog bites in Southern Italy.

Alberghina D, Virga A, Sottile G, Buffa S, Panzera M Front Vet Sci. 2023; 10:1104477.

PMID: 36896292 PMC: 9988904. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1104477.

Are children and dogs best friends? A scoping review to explore the positive and negative effects of child-dog interactions.

Giraudet C, Liu K, McElligott A, Cobb M PeerJ. 2022; 10:e14532.

PMID: 36570006 PMC: 9774011. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14532.

References

Goldstein E . Management of human and animal bite wounds. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1989; 21(6):1275-9. DOI: 10.1016/s0190-9622(89)70343-1. View

Steele M, Ma O, Nakase J, Moran G, Mower W, Ong S . Epidemiology of animal exposures presenting to emergency departments. Acad Emerg Med. 2007; 14(5):398-403. DOI: 10.1197/j.aem.2006.12.012. View

Alberghina D, Virga A, Buffa S, Panzera M . Incidence and characteristics of hospitalizations after dog's bite injuries in Sicily (Italy) between 2012‑2015. Vet Ital. 2018; 53(4):315-320. DOI: 10.12834/VetIt.1063.5709.2. View

ABRAHAMIAN . Dog Bites: Bacteriology, Management, and Prevention. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2000; 2(5):446-453. DOI: 10.1007/s11908-000-0075-z. View

Peters V, Sottiaux M, Appelboom J, Kahn A . Posttraumatic stress disorder after dog bites in children. J Pediatr. 2004; 144(1):121-2. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2003.10.024. View

Talan D, Citron D, Abrahamian F, Moran G, Goldstein E . Bacteriologic analysis of infected dog and cat bites. Emergency Medicine Animal Bite Infection Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1999; 340(2):85-92. DOI: 10.1056/NEJM199901143400202. View

Overall K, Love M . Dog bites to humans--demography, epidemiology, injury, and risk. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001; 218(12):1923-34. DOI: 10.2460/javma.2001.218.1923. View

Ellis R, Ellis C . Dog and cat bites. Am Fam Physician. 2014; 90(4):239-43. View

Meslin F . Rabies as a traveler's risk, especially in high-endemicity areas. J Travel Med. 2005; 12 Suppl 1:S30-40. DOI: 10.2310/7060.2005.12055. View

10.

Medeiros I, Saconato H . Antibiotic prophylaxis for mammalian bites. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001; (2):CD001738. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001738. View

11.

Rhea S, Weber D, Poole C, Cairns C . Risk factors for hospitalization after dog bite injury: a case-cohort study of emergency department visits. Acad Emerg Med. 2014; 21(2):196-203. DOI: 10.1111/acem.12312. View

12.

Rosado B, Garcia-Belenguer S, Leon M, Palacio J . A comprehensive study of dog bites in Spain, 1995-2004. Vet J. 2008; 179(3):383-91. DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.02.002. View

13.

Brogan T, Bratton S, Dowd M, Hegenbarth M . Severe dog bites in children. Pediatrics. 1995; 96(5 Pt 1):947-50. View

14.

Golinko M, Arslanian B, Williams J . Characteristics of 1616 Consecutive Dog Bite Injuries at a Single Institution. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2016; 56(4):316-325. DOI: 10.1177/0009922816657153. View

15.

Ostanello F, Gherardi A, Caprioli A, La Placa L, Passini A, Prosperi S . Incidence of injuries caused by dogs and cats treated in emergency departments in a major Italian city. Emerg Med J. 2005; 22(4):260-2. PMC: 1726740. DOI: 10.1136/emj.2004.014886. View

16.

Park G, Ro Y, Shin S, Song K, Hong K, Jeong J . Preventive effects of car safety seat use on clinical outcomes in infants and young children with road traffic injuries: A 7-year observational study. Injury. 2018; 49(6):1097-1103. DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2018.04.001. View

17.

Kaye A, Belz J, Kirschner R . Pediatric dog bite injuries: a 5-year review of the experience at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009; 124(2):551-558. DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0b013e3181addad9. View

18.

WEISS H, Friedman D, Coben J . Incidence of dog bite injuries treated in emergency departments. JAMA. 1998; 279(1):51-3. DOI: 10.1001/jama.279.1.51. View

19.

Gilchrist J, Sacks J, White D, Kresnow M . Dog bites: still a problem?. Inj Prev. 2008; 14(5):296-301. DOI: 10.1136/ip.2007.016220. View

20.

. Nonfatal dog bite-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments--United States, 2001. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2003; 52(26):605-10. View