Epidemiological characteristics of patients attending for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis at the infectious diseases hospital of lucknow, India.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to assess epidemiological and anti-rabies vaccination status in animal bite patients attending the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Lucknow.


METHODS
A longitudinal survey was conducted in the Infectious Diseases Hospital of Lucknow from January to December 2013. During this duration a total of 390 patients presenting with animal bites were included.


RESULTS
A majority (63.3%) of patients were in the 16-59 years age group. 75% of patients had attended the IDH for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 24 hours. The male to female ratio was 2.98:1. A majority (79.5%) of patients were injured by dogs. 9.0% patients were in close contact with rabies patient. On the basis of WHO classification, 4.2% of animal bite patients were placed in grade I, 88.2 in grade II and 7.6% in grade III. In 73.3% of patients wound were in lower limbs. Complete vaccination was found in 65.0% and the use of human rabies immune globulin was only in 11.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
Outcome of an animal bite can be fatal. The only preventive/curative measure available is anti-rabies vaccination and the use of human rabies immune globulin, hence to assure 100% compliance for the same awareness campaign is required.
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, MLB Medical College, Jhansi, India.
Krishna Kumar
KK
Sahu
Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Manish K
MK
Manar
Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
Shivandra K
SK
Singh
Department of Community Medicine, S N Medical College, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Harshwardhan
H
Singh
Animal bite; Animal bite patient; Anti-rabies vaccination; Epidemiology; Infectious disease hospital; Lucknow; Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis