The epidemiology of dog bite injuries in Greece: preliminary results of a surveillance scheme

Dog bite injuries commonly fall under the radar of the public health surveillance systems. Nevertheless, these incidents may result in emotional distress, disfigurement, functional deficit, or exposure to zoonotic agents and therefore may have a considerable impact on public health. A pilot surveill...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hippokratia 2023-07, Vol.27 (3), p.82-88
Main Authors: Dougas, G, Katerelos, P, Chatzianastasiou, S, Mellou, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Dog bite injuries commonly fall under the radar of the public health surveillance systems. Nevertheless, these incidents may result in emotional distress, disfigurement, functional deficit, or exposure to zoonotic agents and therefore may have a considerable impact on public health. A pilot surveillance scheme was launched in Greece to assess the epidemiology of dog bite injuries. Physicians in hospital-based emergency room departments and primary health care centers were required to report bite cases via a reporting form. The collected data were analyzed cross-sectionally. From January to June 2023, 1,656 dog bite victims attended the healthcare settings in Greece. The rate was estimated at 15.8 cases per 100,000 population. The frequency of healthcare visits varied significantly among the regions (p
ISSN:1108-4189
1790-8019