Profile of animal bites and treatment seeking behaviour of victims in a rural community of West Bengal

Dr. Baisakhi Maji; Dr. Jadab Ch. Sardar; Dr Pankaj Kumar Mandal

Volume : IX, Issue : I, January - 2020

Profile of animal bites and treatment seeking behaviour of victims in a rural community of West Bengal

Dr. Baisakhi Maji, Dr. Jadab Ch. Sardar, Dr Pankaj Kumar Mandal

Abstract :

Rabies is practically 100% fatal & it is a neglected tropical disease of world wide importance with about 60,000 deaths annually. Most of the cases occur in Asia & Africa. Community based observational cross–sectional study was conducted in north 24 parganas, W. B. A house to house visit was done using pre–tested schedule and total 1516 persons were surveyed covering 288 houses among whom 32 animal bite cases were detected. Prevalence of animal bite 2.1%, mostly males (62.5%) and 71.95% were 15–60 yrs, dog bite cases (59.4%), common site of injury lower limb (68.7%), all cat III victims were not given immunoglobulin & 21.9% did not wash wounds & 78.1% washed wound for 1/2 minutes. Major cause lack of awareness and non availability of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG).