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Original ArticleOpen Access
Risk of Rabies After Mammal Bites in Thai Children
Tepsumethanon S 
,
Tepsumethanon V ,
Wilde H
,
Tepsumethanon V ,
Wilde H The data were collected by questionnaire at the Outpatient Department of Chulalongkorn
University Hospital, Bangkok Thailand. This study revealed that 52 per cent of children had pet
mammals in their home of which 67 per cent were dogs. 23.6 per cent of these children gave at
least one history of a mammal bite inside (53.4%) or outside (46.6%) their house. Mammal bites
of children could be found at all ages. However, most were in the age group of 10-14 years
( 42.3% ), and 5-9 years (39. 7% ). The most common site of injury was on the legs (56.6%) and
hands (30.7%). 31.7_per cent and 68.3 per cent of the bitten children incurred WHO category II
and III potential rabies exposures (moderate and severe). 61.9 per cent had performed เธ—wound
cleansing on each bite injury site and 34 per cent did not. 72 per cent of the children who had
mammal bites received no post-exposure rabies treatment and 85.7 per cent did not make any
effort to capture or observe the animal who had bitten them. Only 10.6 per cent observed the
animals for 10 days or more. It was concluded that children are at considerable risk of mammal
bites and that they are not receiving optimal care in this canine rabies endemic region and that 50
per cent of human rabies cases in Thailand were in children under 15 years of age.
Key word
: Risk of Rabies Exposure, Mammal Bite, Children, Thailand
University Hospital, Bangkok Thailand. This study revealed that 52 per cent of children had pet
mammals in their home of which 67 per cent were dogs. 23.6 per cent of these children gave at
least one history of a mammal bite inside (53.4%) or outside (46.6%) their house. Mammal bites
of children could be found at all ages. However, most were in the age group of 10-14 years
( 42.3% ), and 5-9 years (39. 7% ). The most common site of injury was on the legs (56.6%) and
hands (30.7%). 31.7_per cent and 68.3 per cent of the bitten children incurred WHO category II
and III potential rabies exposures (moderate and severe). 61.9 per cent had performed เธ—wound
cleansing on each bite injury site and 34 per cent did not. 72 per cent of the children who had
mammal bites received no post-exposure rabies treatment and 85.7 per cent did not make any
effort to capture or observe the animal who had bitten them. Only 10.6 per cent observed the
animals for 10 days or more. It was concluded that children are at considerable risk of mammal
bites and that they are not receiving optimal care in this canine rabies endemic region and that 50
per cent of human rabies cases in Thailand were in children under 15 years of age.
Key word
: Risk of Rabies Exposure, Mammal Bite, Children, Thailand
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