Evaluation of cases admitted to a center in Istanbul, Turkey in 2003 for rabies vaccination and three rabies cases followed up in the last 15 years.
We evaluated the cases of 7,266 individuals who applied to our hospital's Center for Rabies Vaccination between January and December 2003. Among 1,831 female and 5,435 male cases, 37% were given 3 doses of vaccination, 14% were given 5 doses, and in 24% of cases a 2-1-1 vaccination schedule was applied. Antirabies serum of horse origin was given in 179 cases. Regarding the wounds, 83% were superficial and 17% were deep. Most of the cases involved dog bites (74%). Of the dogs involved, 30% were pets (with owners). Only a few (6%) of those pets had been vaccinated. Of the 2 dogs investigated for rabies in Pendik Veterinarian Research Institute, none were found to harbor the disease. In the last 15 years, 3 cases were followed up with a diagnosis of human rabies in our clinic. Domestic animals (without owners, living a somewhat wild life in cities) are still the cause of many rabies cases. As rabies carries a very high fatality risk, public health precautions and education are important as well as post-exposure prophylaxis.
Sengoz
Gonul
G
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Haseki Hospital for Training and Research, Istanbul, Turkey. drgonul@hasekihastanesi.gov.tr
Yasar
Kadriye Kart
KK
Karabela
Semsi Nur
SN
Yildirim
Filiz
F
Vardarman
Figen Tansug
FT
Nazlican
Ozcan
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D011819:Rabies Vaccines