An epidemiological study on dog bite and its management in Bellary, Karnataka.

Animal bites are common childhood occurrences. Dog bites remain constant problem in our country because of the increasing dog population. To know the pattern of dog bites in children, the morbidity Pattern, the circumstances of dog bites, ascertain the first aid measures and Vaccination practiced by people after dog bites and the compliance with vaccination and adverse reactions due to vaccination, this cross sectional descriptive study was carried put on children who were dog bite victims attending VIMS hospital, Bellary during Feb 2011 to Nov 2011. Out of 536 participants 71% were males and 29% were females. 35% of the participants belongs to 10-12 yr age group. Majority of the victims belongs to upper lower and lower class of socio economic group. 42% of children were bitten over lower limbs and 43.8% of the victims had some local treatment immediately. 77% of the victims were received anti-rabies vaccine and only 11% of the dogs were vaccinated against rabies.