Menk Paul T, Mahabee-Gittens E Melinda, Pomerantz Wendy J
Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Inj Epidemiol. 2024 Oct 3;11(Suppl 1):55. doi: 10.1186/s40621-024-00537-x.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Shortly after the onset of the COVID Pandemic, when many schools and outside activities were suspended, dog adoption rates increased. It is unknown if increased dog adoption rates along with stay-at-home orders resulted in changes to pediatric dog bite injuries. The objective of this study was to examine the incidence and characteristics of dog bites in children seen in a pediatric emergency department (PED) during the pandemic compared to before.
A retrospective review of children evaluated in the PED of a level 1 pediatric trauma center and its satellite PED from March 2018 through February 2022 who had a discharge diagnosis of dog bite (ICD-10 W54.0XXA) was conducted. Pre-pandemic cases, March 2018 through February 2020, were compared to those that occurred during the pandemic, March 2020 through February 2022.
There were 2,222 patients included in the study. Compared to pre-pandemic cases, the incidence for the first 12 months of the pandemic was 1.5 times higher than the pre-pandemic 12-month periods but returned closer to the pre-pandemic rates during the second 12 months of the pandemic. More patients were admitted during the pandemic (6.1% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.05). Facial and multiple injuries occurred more frequently during the pandemic (face 35.9% vs. 33.5%: multiple 18.5% vs. 15.6% p < 0.05).
There was a higher incidence of PED visits, higher admission rates, and an increase in multiple body part and facial injuries in children with dog bite injuries during the COVID pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. Pediatric providers should emphasize safe dog interactions with anticipatory guidance.
背景/目的：在新冠疫情爆发后不久，许多学校和户外活动暂停，狗狗领养率上升。尚不清楚狗狗领养率的增加以及居家令是否导致儿童犬咬伤有所变化。本研究的目的是比较疫情期间与之前相比，儿科急诊科（PED）接诊的儿童犬咬伤的发生率和特征。
对2018年3月至2022年2月在一级儿科创伤中心的儿科急诊科及其附属儿科急诊科接受评估且出院诊断为犬咬伤（ICD-10 W54.0XXA）的儿童进行回顾性研究。将2018年3月至2020年2月的疫情前病例与2020年3月至2022年2月疫情期间发生的病例进行比较。
本研究共纳入2222例患者。与疫情前病例相比，疫情第一年的发生率比疫情前12个月高出1.5倍，但在疫情第二年接近疫情前水平。疫情期间更多患者需要住院治疗（6.1%对3.7%，p<0.05）。疫情期间面部和多处受伤更为常见（面部35.9%对33.5%：多处18.5%对15.6%，p<0.05）。
与疫情前相比，新冠疫情期间儿童犬咬伤患者到儿科急诊科就诊的发生率更高、住院率更高，且多部位和面部受伤增加。儿科医护人员应通过预期指导强调与狗狗安全互动。
