Dog bites as a leading cause of nonfatal emergency visits in United States

With the increase of dog ownership in the United States, it has been essential to study and monitor dog bite injuries' epidemiology. Dog bites have been ranked as the 13th cause of nonfatal emergency visits in United States. 

This study provides data from individuals with dog bite injuries that were obtained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health from 2005 to 2018. 

Results showed that the rate of dog-bite injuries increased from 2005 to 2011 and then reported a significant decrease. Dog bite injuries were more prevalent in three groups: children, people from less populated areas, and poor neighborhoods' residents. It was also seen an association between more impoverished communities with less dogs were spayed or neutered in New York City.

Dog bites have declined in recent years but still represent a public health problem. The best way to reduce dog bite injuries is through prevention programs and those targeting young children. More research needs to understand better the relationship between bite injury rates and neighborhood socioeconomic status.

To read more click on the link below:

The changing epidemiology of dog bite injuries in the United States, 2005–2018