title: Pattern of animal bites and post exposure prophylaxis in rabies: A five year study in a tertiary care unit in Sri Lanka.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rabies is a global problem which occurs in more than 150 countries and territories including Sri Lanka, where human deaths from rabies are in decline whilst resources incurred for prevention of rabies are in sharp incline over the years. In this backdrop, we aim to audit the post-exposure treatment (PET) in rabies and the pattern of animal bites in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out at Teaching Hospital Peradeniya (THP), in the Central Province of Sri Lanka from 2007-2012 where a registry of all PET has been maintained. The data from registries were extracted after obtaining permission from the hospital authority for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 19 661 cases of animal exposure presented to the THP over the study period of 5 ears. Of them, the majority-17431(88.66 %) were definitive animal bites whilst scratches accounted for 2147(10.92 %) and 83(0.42 %) were miscellaneous exposures. According to the severity grading of injuries, 7 362(37 %) were major bites and 12 226(62 %) were minor bites. The domestic unvaccinated dogs and cats were responsible for 10,662 (54 %) and 3,982 (20 %) of exposures respectively. The total cost incurred for both anti-rabies vaccine and anti rabies serum during the study period is 24,795,888.00 Sri Lankan rupees (190,737.60US$).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pattern of animal bite shows high dominance of domestic dogs and cats exposures. The age of victims ranged from infancy to old-age with higher incidence among children. Even though PET is costly, continued surveillance and rabies control is still necessary along with public education and vaccination of domestic pets.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Peradeniiya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. samkul@sltnet.lk.
authors: Senanayake Abeysinghe Mudiyanselage
authors: SA
authors: Kularatne
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Peradeniiya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. udayapralapanawa@yahoo.com.
authors: Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Priyantha Udaya Kumara
authors: DM
authors: Ralapanawa
authors: Department of Parasitology, Rajarata University, Mihintale, Sri Lanka. kosalagadw83@gmail.com.
authors: Koasala
authors: K
authors: Weerakoon
authors: Teaching Hospitals, Peradeniya-Kandy, Sri Lanka. samkl@sltnet.lk.
authors: Usha Kumari
authors: UK
authors: Bokalamulla
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Peradeniiya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. nambagaspitiya@yahoo.com.
authors: Nanada
authors: N
authors: Abagaspitiya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011818:Rabies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D063128:Tertiary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011819:Rabies Vaccines