Clinico-Demographic Profile and Trend of Animal Bite Cases Attending an Anti-Rabies Clinic in a Rural District in the Sub-Himalayan Region of North India: A Record-Based Descriptive Study

Abstract

Introduction: Animal bites are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Animal saliva contains a diverse array of harmful infectious bacteria or viruses that can infect people and cause multiple fatal illnesses, including rabies. Rabies is a common, neglected, and underreported zoonotic disease with nearly a 100% case fatality rate in humans if left untreated.
Aim: This study aimed to describe the clinico-demographic profile and trend of animal bite cases in a rural district in the sub-Himalayan region of northern India.
Methodology: Record-based, descriptive study conducted in RHTC in a rural area with data extracted for two years w.e.f. 1st June 2022 to 31st May 2024 over a two-week period from 14th to 27th July 2024 regarding animal bite cases. We collected data for demographic, injury, and treatment-related variables using the EpiCollect5 application.
Result: Out of 562 animal bite cases, the mean (± SD) age was 31.7 (± 19.8) years, 64% were males, and the 10-19-year-old age group sustained the maximum (23.6%) animal bites. Dogs were the biting animals in 83.4% of cases. 50.4% of injuries were sustained on the lower limb and 45% in the upper limb. The monthly animal bite cases fluctuated with an average of 21 cases in a month.
Conclusion: A high rate of dog bite injuries among males in children and adults is observed, more on lower and upper limbs. Getting medical help after being bitten by an unfamiliar or wild animal is essential to
prevent rabies.

How to cite this article:
Gupta A, Raj D, Thakur S. Clinico-Demographic Profile and Trend of Animal Bite Cases Attending an Anti-Rabies Clinic in a Rural District in the Sub-Himalayan Region of North India: A Record-Based Descriptive Study. APCRI J. 2025; 27(1): 12-16.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0973.5038.202502