Title: A Cross Sectional Study on Epidemiological Profile of Patients, Attending Anti- Rabies Clinic in Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Authors: Dr Asma, Dr B. Kiranmai, Dr Vimala Thomas
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v4i9.23
Background: In developing countries over 90% of human deaths from rabies are caused by dog bites. It is estimated that the South East Asia Region accounts for approximately 60% of human deaths due to rabies in the world. In India alone, 20,000 deaths occur due to rabies annually. Objectives: The study was conducted to describe epidemiological characteristics of patients attending anti-rabies clinic at Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM), Hyderabad. Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study, at IPM was carried out in May 2015 among eight hundred and seventy two patients using a pre tested questionnaire Observations & Conclusions: Around 71% were males and 29% were females with maximum number of animal bites (22.6%) in the age group of <10 years and 51.8% of population immunized themselves with anti-rabies vaccine within 12-24 hours of exposure to animal bite. Majority (90. 9%) of patients were exposed to dog bites, followed by cat bites (6%). Timely and correct post exposure prophylaxis for the animal bite victims is necessary to prevent rabies. Keywords: Dog bite, rabies, anti-rabies vaccine, post exposure prophylaxis.
Abstract
