Incidence and Clinical Management of Animal Bites in Yazd, Iran (2019–2023)

Jamshid Ayatollahi; Mohammad Dehghanmanshadi; Seyed Alireza Mousavi; Tahere Fallah; Seyed Hossein Shahcheraghi

doi:10.18502/aptj.v5i3.20511

Jamshid Ayatollahi Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Mohammad Dehghanmanshadi Medical Student, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Seyed Alireza Mousavi Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Tahere Fallah Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Seyed Hossein Shahcheraghi Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/aptj.v5i3.20511

Keywords: Prevalence, Rabies, Animal bite, Yazd

Abstract

Background: Bites from animals pose a pronounced threat to people's health because they can cause the fatal disease of rabies. Rabies in Iran remains one of the significant health and economic problems.

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of animal bite cases in Yazd, Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the statistical population includes animal bite cases referred to health centers in Yazd (2019-2023). The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 21).

Results: A total of 12122 cases were included in the study. Cats and Dogs caused almost 97% of all bites. 98.2% of the invasive animals were domestic, and 55.3% of them were strays. Most of the bites occurred during the summer season, which accounted for 29.13% of all bites. The most bitten parts were the hands. The most affected age group was individuals aged 21-40 years, which accounted for 39% of the cases.

Conclusion: In the present study, most cases of bites were related to dogs and cats in Yazd city and the importance of the resulting complications in terms of health and economy, the authorities should plan to reduce cases by increasing the level of awareness through training and combating stray dogs and cats, as well as providing the necessary equipment to treat and follow up on people who have been bitten.