Dog bites. A neglected problem in accident prevention.
Dog bites are a common but neglected pediatric problem. To clarify the epidemiology of dog bites and to learn if parents would welcome counseling aimed at preventing bites, 455 families (960 children) in a Denver pediatric practice were surveyed. One hundred ninety-four children (20.2%) had been bitten at least once, with the majority of bites occurring before the child was aged 5 years. Forty-three percent of the bites prompted a visit to a physician and 16.5% received sutures. German shepherds were responsible for 17% of the incidents, more than expected relative to their popularity as pets. The dogs usually were owned by a neighbor (40.2%) or the victim's family (31%). Approximately half of the bites were believed to be unprovoked. Seventy-seven percent of the parents believed that dog bite prevention warranted discussion with their physician. Dog bites are an important pediatric problem, and parents should be counseled accordingly during well-child visits.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003120:Colorado; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors