As we all look forward to thawing out from a long winter, warmer weather promises more outdoor activity… and unfortunately, more dog bites. Children in particular seem especially vulnerable - dogs commonly bite them on the head and neck. The average age of a bitten child is around 6 years old, and family pooches are often the culprit. I can relate: As a child, a neighbor’s dog bit me on the cheek as I tried to pet it. And yes, it was summer time.
In a recent Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery study, researchers studied bites in 84 children over a period of eight years. The children ranged in age from 10 months to 19 years. The cheek (35%) and lips (21%) were the most common bite sites with nose and ears at 8% each.
Two-thirds of the children suffered more than one bite location, with total average wound size of over 3 inches. Over 10% of the wounds got infected. Fortunately, most wounds healed well despite the occurrence of infection, which can usually be treated with oral antibiotics.
It is estimated that 1% of all ER visits are related to dog bite injuries, including 44,000 cases of facial injuries in the U.S. each year. Pit bulls are most commonly identified as causing the attack. In about 27% of cases, family dogs were involved, often provoked by young children pulling on ears or tails.
Families are cautioned to teach their children a healthy respect for a dog’s potential for harm. They should not approach strange dogs or reach through fences to touch them, pull on ears or tails, or approach them by surprise. And now we know that summer time may pose a special risk for children from animals that may be irritable from summer heat or greater exposure to children.See All House Calls by Dr. Geehr.