Dog bite injuries and fatalities in Texas and the United States

Dog bites are under-reported, occur most frequently in children and are mainly preventable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates > 4.7 million people, (~ 2% of the U.S. population) are bitten by a dog yearly. Relative to other states, Texas accounts for a high number of the 20-25 dog bite-related fatalities that occur each year. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), 7 such fatalities were reported in 2006. Analysis of DSHS dog-bite registry database revealed 57% of the victims of fatal dog bites were children <10 years of age. Nationwide, severe dog-bite injuries result in approximately 350,000 emergency room visits annually. Dog bites entail not only direct medical costs, but also social and emotional trauma, increased insurance claims, and legal costs. Assessment of the dog-bite injury data for weekly and annual time patterns in events were completed using autocorrelation and cosine analysis special software programs written in Stata 9; assessment of the spatial distributions of dog bite in the U.S and in Texas were accomplished using Mapmaker Professional 8 computer software. Pit Bull, Rottweiler, and German Shepherd breeds were most likely to be involved in fatal attacks, which involved children more often than adults. United States non-fatal dog bites showed an annual cycle, with a summer peak and winter trough. In Texas, non-fatal dog bites also displayed temporal and spatial patterns. Public education, enactment and enforcement of local animal control laws, and improved reporting were identified as prevention strategies. Presentation will illustrate identified patterns.