Epidemiology of Animal Bites - a Study at Anti Rabies Center, District Head Quarter Hospital, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh

A study was conducted during June-July 2012 at Anti- rabies centre (ARC), District Headquarters Hospital, Rajahmundry to study the types of Animal bites and classification of bites, to study various practices of people after sustaining animal bites and to study the functioning of ARC. A total of 100 fresh animal bite victims were interviewed (exit interview) on a predesigned questionnaire. The information on the functioning of Anti Rabies center was obtained from Medical officer-in-charge of the ARC. The data were manually analyzed. It was found that Dog bites caused maximum morbidity (95%). Second most common biting animal was monkey (3%), followed by cat (2%). Most bites (64.3%) were unprovoked bites by stray (64.7%) animals. In this study 57% animal bite victims were males and 39% were children in age group of 2-15 years. A high 72% of the victims had sustained category III exposure as per the WHO classification. Before coming to ARCs only 36% people had washed the wound with water/soap or water alone. Majority (42%) of the victims had applied Juice of Calotropis leaves to the wounds. The practice of wound washing at the ARC which is an important component of animal bite management was not being practiced at the centre. On day zero, along with vaccine, a dose of Tetanus Toxoid was being administered to the victims. Freeze dried Vero cell culture vaccine was used for immunizing the animal bite victims against Rabies. However, a total of four doses were being given at the centre on days 0,3,7 and 21 which does not commensurate with the National guideline for Rabies prophylaxis. On day 21, a dose was being given Instead of administering the vaccine on day 14 and 28, Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) was available and was being used.