Facial Dog Bites in Southwestern Nigerian Children: An Analysis of Eight Cases

Abstract

This paper analyses the prevalence, pattern and treatment outcome of eight cases of facial dog bite in Nigerian children seen and managed at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital's Complex, a tertiary hospital located in Southwestern Nigeria. During the study period of 18 months (July 1996–December 1997), a total of 174 cases of facial soft tissue injuries in children were managed, two of which resulted in rabies and death of the patients. Based on the findings of this analysis, we suggest that unprovoked facial dog bites inflicted by familiar domestic dogs may be complicated by rabies. Ignorance about the risk of uncompleted treatment, financial constraints and scarcity of the vaccine may be implicated in the outcome. The need to improve community knowledge of rabies and the availability and affordability of rabies vaccine are highlighted.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Ojuawo

Abdulkareem

. Dog bites in children in Ilorin. Sahel Med J 2000;3:33–6.

Nanterre

RC B

. Rabies throughout the world and Pasteur rabies vaccine prepared on Vero cells. Euro TSG Pasteur Vaccines, 331 348 821. France 170 153 Mars 88–3000.

Jones

Shires

. Bites and sting of animals and insects. In: Schwartz

Shires

Spencer

Storer

, eds. Principles of Surgery. New York: McGraw Hill, 1979: 232–42.

Lee

JLH

Buhr

. Dog bites and local infection with Pasteurella septica. BMJ 1960;2:169–71.

Lackmann

Draf

Isselstein

Tollner

. Surgical treatment of facial dog bite injuries in children. J Cranio Max Fac Surg 1992;20:181–6.

Lackman

Tollner

. More on dog bite injuries. Pediatrics 1992;89:356–7.