Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
40th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR PAEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES (ESPID), Atina, Yunanistan, 09 Mayıs 2022, cilt.1, sa.580, ss.580
Rabies is a public health problem that can be prevented by vaccination and prophylaxis practices both in our country and in the world. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical and epidemiological features of suspected rabies-contact children admitted to our hospital.
In our study, pediatric patients who were admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department of Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine between January 2013 and June 2021 with contact an animal which has a rabies risk were evaluated retrospectively. Epidemiological and clinical features of 746 pediatric cases included in the study, and prophylaxis practices after suspected rabies exposure were evaluated.
Of the 746 cases included in the study, 55% were male, and the mean age was 102 months (4 months-216 months). Of the cases, 94% resided in the city and 6% resided in the countryside. There was cat contact in 54% and dog contact in 46% of the cases. Of contact animals, 84% were waif and 89% were unvaccinated. While 82% of suspected rabies contacts were in category-2, 60% had upper extremity contact and 21% lower extremity contact. Rabies vaccine was administered to 99%, rabies immunoglobulin to 10%, tetanus prophylaxis to 32%. Immunoglobulin, antibiotic, tetanus prophylaxis, suturing and hospitalization were higher in the dog-contact group than in the cat-contact group. Compliance with the rabies vaccination schedule was high in both groups.
Our study shows that rabies suspected contact cases should be mostly with waif and unvaccinated animals, and precautions such as vaccinating and sheltering stray animals should be increased. Rabies, which is still a deadly public health problem for the whole world and for our country, can be prevented by vaccination, post-exposure prophylaxis practices and community education.