Evalution of rabies risk contact cases

Abstract

Aims: Rabies is a disease with fatal complications, often caused by a bite from an infected animal. The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the cases admitted due to rabies risk contact. Methods: The study included 928 patients admitted to public hospitals in Batman in the last 1 year due to animal bites and risky contact. The cases included in the study were evaluated according to age, gender, residential area, season of application, place of bite, type of animal bitten and vaccination status. Results: 31.8% of the applicants were under 18 years of age. 63.5% of the applicants were male. According to the season of application, the highest number of applications was in summer with 32.4%, while the lowest number of applications was in winter with 18.8%. When evaluated according to residential areas, there were more applications from urban areas. Animal bites were 53.8% cat bites, 35.5% dog bites, 10.8% horse, donkey and cow bites. 94.5% of cases fully completed the vaccination program. Conclusion: Rabies is a major public health problem. Necessary measures should be taken to reduce the number of risky contact cases. Necessary shelters for animals, centers where they can be treated should be provided, and a preventive vaccination program for animals should be carried out in full.

Keywords

• Rabies risk contact
• cat bite
• vaccination
• public health

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