To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Dog Bites Are Significant Source Of Injury In U.S. URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/501DE.htm Doctor's Guide January 6, 1998
CHICAGO, IL -- January 6, 1998 -- Dogs bite more than four-million people in the U.S. each year -- more than 750,000 require medical treatment, according to an article in tomorrow's issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. Harold Weiss, M.S., M.P.H., and colleagues, formerly from the Center for Injury Research and Control, University of Pittsburgh, PA., describe the incidence and characteristics of dog-bite injuries treated in U.S. emergency departments (EDs). The authors are now with the Center for Violence and Injury Control, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Pittsburgh. Based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1992-1994 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they estimate that dog bites are annually responsible for: -- nearly 4.5 million injuries -- 20 deaths -- nearly 334,000 visits to hospital emergency departments -- more than 21,000 visits to medical offices and clinics -- more than 670 hospitalizations -- about 3.73 million non-medically treated injuries -- 914 new dog bite injuries requiring ED visits per day The researchers also determined: males were more likely than females to be bitten by dogs; children had the highest rate of ED visits for dog bite injuries; and young children were more likely than adults to be bitten in the head, neck and face area. The median age of patients bitten was 15 years, with children, especially boys aged five to nine years, having the highest incidence rate. The authors write that it has been estimated that almost half of all children have been bitten by a dog at some point in their lives. Concerning the economic impact of treating dog bite injuries, the authors estimate that the average dog bite results in a payment to the hospital of $274 and a national annual total payment for ED services for new dog bite-related injuries of $102.4 million. Children and adolescents younger than 20 years accounted for over half of these payments ($58.7 million), and Medicaid, Medicare, and other government sources were mentioned as payers in 26 percent of the visits. "Considering the risk to large parts of the population, especially to children, it is necessary that effective preventive strategies be developed and applied to reduce the painful and costly burden of dog bites," the authors write. "We know little about which strategies work or do not work, however. More knowledge is needed through a combination of enhanced and coordinated dog bite reporting systems, expanded population-based surveys, and implementation and evaluation of preventive trials. "Particularly for the more severe episodes, information needs to be obtained regarding high-risk situations, high-risk dogs and what leads to successful preventive interventions." The researchers write that by better understanding the patterns of medical care for dog bite victims, the broad medical and public health impact of dog bite-related injuries can be better appreciated and targeted for preventive efforts. The authors estimate that with more than one-third of American households owning a dog, there are more than 50 million dogs in the U.S. They add that dog bites occur because the domesticated dog still retains many of its wild instincts, including behaviours that all too often lead to human attacks. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.