Hospitalizations for pediatric dog bite injuries in the United States

Robert J. McLoughlin; Lauren Cournoyer; Michael P Hirsh; Muriel A. Cleary; Jeremy T. Aidlen

doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.06.025

Trauma| Volume 55, ISSUE 7, P1228-1233, July 2020

Hospitalizations for pediatric dog bite injuries in the United States

Robert J. McLoughlin
Robert J. McLoughlin
Correspondence
Corresponding author at: Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Ave N, Worcester, MA 01655.
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Affiliations
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Surgery, 55 Lake Ave N, Worcester, MA 01655
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Lauren Cournoyer
Lauren Cournoyer
Affiliations
University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Ave N, Worcester, MA 01655
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Michael P Hirsh
Michael P Hirsh
Affiliations
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, 55 Lake Ave N, Worcester, MA 01655
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Muriel A. Cleary
Muriel A. Cleary
Affiliations
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, 55 Lake Ave N, Worcester, MA 01655
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Jeremy T. Aidlen
Jeremy T. Aidlen
Affiliations
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, 55 Lake Ave N, Worcester, MA 01655
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Published:July 17, 2019DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.06.025

Abstract

Background

Dog bites are a common cause of pediatric trauma requiring hospital admission. We aim to describe pediatric bite victims, associated injuries and interventions.

Methods

Children (≤18 years old) were identified with an ICD-9 diagnosis of dog bite in the Kids' Inpatient Database for the years 2006, 2009 and 2012. National estimates were obtained using case weighting. Multivariable logistic regression was performed.

Results

We identified 6323 admissions for a dog bite with mean age of 6.63 years. Patients were predominately male (56.9%), non-Hispanic white (61.9%), resided in the South (35.1%), and in an urban environment (59.9%). Almost one third underwent a surgical procedure. Open wounds of the head, neck and trunk were the most common injury and decreased in prevalence with increasing age. Open wounds of the extremities were the second most common and the prevalence increased with increasing age. Children aged 1–4 and 5–10 years were both more than three times more likely to be admitted than those more than age 11.

Conclusions

Dog bite injuries are common for pediatric patients. Children less than age 11 are at greatest risk, particularly in the summer. Dog safety training should be focused on elementary and middle school children close to the start of summer vacation.

Level of evidence

III.

Key words

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Article info

Publication history

Published online: July 17, 2019

Accepted: June 28, 2019

Received in revised form: June 18, 2019

Received: April 4, 2019

Footnotes

☆Funding Source: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

☆☆Declarations of interest: None

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2019.06.025

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Hospitalizations for pediatric dog bite injuries in the United States

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Level of evidence

Key words

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