Dog bites. A neglected problem in accident prevention
E. A. Lauer, W. C. White and B. A. Lauer
Dog bites are a common but neglected pediatric problem. To clarify the
epidemiology of dog bites and to learn if parents would welcome counseling
aimed at preventing bites, 455 families (960 children) in a Denver
pediatric practice were surveyed. One hundred ninety-four children (20.2%)
had been bitten at least once, with the majority of bites occurring before
the child was aged 5 years. Forty-three percent of the bites prompted a
visit to a physician and 16.5% received sutures. German shepherds were
responsible for 17% of the incidents, more than expected relative to their
popularity as pets. The dogs usually were owned by a neighbor (40.2%) or
the victim's family (31%). Approximately half of the bites were believed to
be unprovoked. Seventy-seven percent of the parents believed that dog bite
prevention warranted discussion with their physician. Dog bites are an
important pediatric problem, and parents should be counseled accordingly
during well-child visits.
