Publication:

Distribution of animal bite cases attending anti-rabies clinic of a tertiary health care center in central India

Background Human rabies is 100% fatal communicable disease but preventable through prompt and appropriate medical care. In spite of this, it claims an estimated 59000 lives each year mostly in Asia and Africa. India is endemic for rabies. In India alone, 18000 to 20000 deaths occur annually mostly in under 15 years old children. If not treated on time, it causes significant social and economic burden specially on developing countries like India. Also to achieve the World Health Organisation’s aim to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030, the analysis of animal bite cases will play a very crucial role. This study aims to study the distribution of animal bite cases attending the anti-rabies clinic.

Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in patients who attended the Anti-Rabies Clinic for treatment of animal bites from January to April 2025, at a tertiary health care center in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Results Among reported cases, 32.9% animal bites were present in age group 16-30 years, 67.6% bites were in males, 87% of the total animal bite cases were from urban area, stray animal bites were 50.18%, dog was the most common animal responsible for bite which is 84.49%, 87.34% were category III wounds.

Conclusions Adult males were having higher risk of category III animal bite wounds. Stray dogs were mainly responsible for the animal bites.