Epidemiological study of animal bite cases attending a tertiary care hospital in Tripura: North-East India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20233767Keywords:
Animal bites, Biting category, Gender, Socio-economic statusAbstract
Background: This research article presents an epidemiological study in Tripura, North-east India, investigating animal bite cases at a tertiary care hospital. Animal bites pose significant public health concerns, including potential zoonotic disease transmission. The study aims to assess animal bite incidence, envenoming, and treatment-seeking behaviours among victims. Data from individuals over one year old will reveal the burden of animal bites on healthcare facilities, guiding effective prevention and management strategies for this pressing health issue.
Methods: A cross-sectional study at AGMC and GBP Hospital, Tripura, assessed animal bite patterns referred to the ARV centre (2018–2021). Included animal-related bites and excluded incomplete data. Collected age, gender, socio-economic status, biting animal, and bite category. Staff ensured nationwide surveillance. Categorised subjects by age.
Results: The cross-sectional study investigated animal bite patterns at AGMC and GBP Hospital, Agartala, Tripura, from 2018 to 2021. Analysis revealed male adults (20-39 years, 41.7%) were most affected, predominantly by dogs (57.58%). The APL category showed the highest frequency (70.79%). Missing category bites decreased, while third category bites increased over time. The winter months had higher frequencies of animal bites. Continued surveillance and targeted interventions are vital for effective prevention.
Conclusions: This study highlights male adults (20–39 years old) as being most affected, predominantly by dog bites. The APL category showed higher susceptibility. Continued surveillance and targeted interventions are crucial for effective prevention.
References
Sudarshan MK, Madhusudana SN, Mahendra BJ, Rao NS, Narayana DA, Rahman SA, Meslin FX, Lobo D, Ravikumar K. Assessing the burden of human rabies in India: results of a national multi-center epidemiological survey. Int J Infect Dis. 2007;11(1):29-35.
Jethani S, Singh SK, Kamble BD, Dobhal V, Singh S, Jha D, Ahlawat P. Epidemiological pattern and trend analysis of animal bite cases of anti-rabies clinic of tertiary care hospital of Delhi. J Family Medi Prim Care. 2022;11(2):728.
Gogtay NJ, Nagpal A, Mallad A, Patel K, Stimpson SJ, Belur A, et al. Demographics of animal bite victims & management practices in a tertiary care institute in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Ind J Medi Res. 2014;139(3):459.
Mog C, Roy A, Choudhuri P. Knowledge about rabies among urban adult residents, Agartala, West Tripura: a cross sectional study. Int J Comm Medi Public Health. 2019;6(8): 1-5.
Public health: rabies in India-NIBI-NIH. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2244675/. Accessed on 12 July 2018.
Murugan V, Amol D, Kalaiselvan G. A Community based cross sectional study of dog bites inchildren in a rural district of Tamil Nadu. Int J Med Sci Public Health. 2017;6(1):109-12.
Jain M, Prakash R, Garg K, Jain R, Choudhary M. Epidemiology of animal bite cases attending anti-rabies clinic of a Tertiary Care Centre in Southern Rajasthan. J Res Med Dent Sci. 2015;3(1):79.
Minhas A, Singh M, Sood A, Raj D, Bhardwaj AK. Epidemiology of animal bite reported at animal bite clinic during 2015-16 at a tertiary care centre of Himachal Pradesh. Ind J Comm Health. 2018;30(4):1-7.
Ichhpujani RL, Mala C, Veena M, Singh J, Bhardwaj M, Bhattacharya D, et al. Epidemiology of animal bites and rabies cases in India. A multicentric study. J Communi Dis. 2008;40(1):27-36.
Shetty RA, Chaturvedi S, Singh Z. Profile of animal bite cases in Pune. J Commun Dis. 2005;37(1):66-72.
Umarigar P, Parmar G, Patel PB, Bansal RK. Profile of animal bite cases attending urban health centres in Surat city: a cross-sectional study. Natl J Community Med. 2012;3(4):631-5.
Santra S, Lahiri SK, Ray TG. Determinants of Animal Bite and Practices Following Bite among the Victims Attending a Block Primary Health Centre of West Bengal. Int J Heal Sci Res. 2015;5(8):24-7.
Bashir K, Haq I, Khan MS, Qurieshi MA. One-year descriptive analysis of patients treated at an anti-rabies clinic-a retrospective study from Kashmir. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2022;14(8):1-10.
Bahonar AR, Rashidi H, Simani S, Fayaz A, Haghdoost AA, Rezaei-Nassab M, et al. Relative frequency of animal rabies and factors affecting it in Kerman province, 1993-2003. J Sch Pub Heal Insti Publ Heal Res. 2007;5(1):69-76.
Purwar N, Kumari K, Singh A, Nagesh SR. A study on animal bites and envenomings in rural Varanasi: a community based cross-sectional study. Inter J Comm Medi Publ Heal. 2018;5(12):5343-8.
Sangeetha S, Sujatha K, William RF. An epidemiological study of animal bites among rural population in Tamil Nadu, India. Int J Comm Med Public Health. 2016;3(6):1413-8.
