Pediatric dog bite injuries in the USA: A systematic review

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Abstract

Introduction Dog bites are one of the leading causes of non-fatal emergency room visits in children. These injuries not only cause physical harm but can lead to long-term psychological stress. This study evaluated the current literature related to pediatric dog bite injuries to identify research gaps which should be prioritized to improve a major public health concern. Methods We performed a keyword search of PubMed, Scopus, and OVID Medline databases (January 1980- March 2020) for all published studies focused on dog bite injuries in the pediatric population (≤18 years of age) using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Results Out of 1859 abstracts screened, 43 studies involving 86 880 patients were included. Twenty-nine studies were retrospective chart reviews characterizing the epidemiology of dog bites and their associated treatment outcomes; six were prospective cohort studies; two were cross-sectional studies; and six were experimental studies. Synthesized results demonstrate that children <9 years of age suffer the greatest burden of injuries, with children <6 years of age at higher risk of more severe injuries involving the head, neck, and face. Conclusion Studies analyzing the prevention or psychosocial consequences of dog bites injuries are needed.

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Patterson, K. N., Horvath, K. Z., Minneci, P. C., Thakkar, R., Wurster, L., Noffsinger, D. L., … Deans, K. J. (2022, February 7). Pediatric dog bite injuries in the USA: A systematic review. World Journal of Pediatric Surgery. BMJ Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.1136/wjps-2021-000281

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