Demarest, Cassandra
(2024)
The burden of animal bites in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 2022.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Background: Animal bites are a public health concern, with thousands of people seeking treatment in the emergency room annually. Dog encounters cause more severe injuries and account for most bite-related hospitalizations. Complications may result from animal bites including rabies, a viral disease that is fatal once symptoms appear and damage bones and joints. People of all ages may be bitten by animals, but children are disproportionally affected. The objective of this analysis was to describe the frequency of animal bite reports and the burden of animal bite related hospitalizations in Allegheny County, PA for the year 2022.
Methods: We reviewed animal bite reports received by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) from healthcare providers via fax or web-based data forms. The data were entered into an Oracle database and exported into an Excel file. SAS was used to clean and analyze data. Hospitalization data were obtained from the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council via ACHD. Primary and secondary diagnosis codes and external cause of injury codes related to animal bites were used to identify bite-related hospitalizations. Descriptive statistics were generated in SAS and used to create charts and graphs in Microsoft Word and Excel. Data from previous reports were used to show trends from 2013 through 2022.
Results: ACHD received 2,189 unique animal bite reports in 2022, a 23% increase since 2013. Most bites were attributed to dogs (77.8%) or cats (17.5%). In 2022 there were 92 hospitalizations related to animal bites among Allegheny County residents. Most hospitalizations were attributed to dog bites (56.5%) and cats (14.9%). Females (60.9%) compromised more bite-related hospitalizations than males (39.1%). The mean length of stay in the hospital was 3 days.
Conclusion: The incidence rates of animal bites continues to rise in Allegheny County and remains a public health concern. Animal bites pose a risk of bacterial infection and exposes people to the risk of rabies transmission. Surveillance should continue, along with interventions, including educational initiatives to address this public health concern.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Member | Glynn, Nancy | epidnwg@pitt.edu | epidnwg | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Mertz, Kristen | kristen.mertz@alleghenycounty.us | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Saladino, Richard | saladir@upmc.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
13 May 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Number of Pages: |
33 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Epidemiology |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
rabies, animal bites, Allegheny County |
| Date Deposited: |
13 May 2024 18:17 |
| Last Modified: |
13 May 2024 18:17 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/45897 |
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