Human and Animal Bites.

In the United States, nearly 56% of households owned a pet in 2011 according to the 2012 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The survey also reports that approximately 70 million dogs and 74 million cats lived in households in the United States during the same year. (1)Human and animal bites are a frequent cause of primary care and emergency department visits for children. It is estimated that 250,000 human bites, 400,000 cat bites, and 4.5 million dog bites occur in the United States each year in both adults and children. (2) In the United States, approximately 10% of all human bites will become infected in a child with a bite wound. The infection rate of dog bites in children is 20%. Cat bite infection rates in children vary but can be up to 50%. Each type of bite wound has a predisposition for sex and/or age. Infected bite wounds manifest with swelling, erythema, and tenderness with or without drainage of the affected site and can lead to serious complications. Most animal bite wounds are polymicrobial in nature. Pasteurella species (spp.) is the most common organism isolated from both cat and dog bites. The microbiology of human bites consists of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.Basic medical management of bite wounds includes thorough cleansing and debridement. Irrigation, closure, and need to obtain culture depend on the type of bite wound, the appearance of the wound, the and timing of medical evaluation after the initial injury. Amoxicillin-clavulanate is the antibiotic of choice for prophylaxis and empirical therapy for children who are not allergic to penicillin. With most animal bites being preventable injuries, healthcare providers caring for children have an important role discussing pet safety with the child and the family.

Human bite as a weapon of assault.

BACKGROUND: Human bite is a growing public health concern. It may be seen in both victims and aggressors following assault. Effects of human bite are both social and medical. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine the prevalence and characteristics of assault-related human bite injuries in Enugu, Nigeria. METHODS: In this prospective study, an objective structured questionnaire was administered to assault victims attending the Forensic unit of ESUT Teaching Hospital between November 2013 and October 2014. Obtained data was analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 219 patients presenting with clinical injuries, 29 (13.2%) sustained human bite wounds. Average age was 32.2±11.30 years and 34.3±12.4 years for victims and biters respectively. Females were more involved than males. Severe injuries resulted more in bites involving females than males. Contusion (47.6%) and laceration (31.0%) were the commonest. Upper limbs were mostly affected (44.7%) followed by the face (29.0%). Romance-related injuries affected breasts and thighs. Most incidents (62.1%) occurred within home/living quarters. Most biters were known to their victims. CONCLUSION: Human bite is a common outcome of assault and so should be anticipated in cases of assault. Patterns of location of bites seem related to nature of crime.

Fight Bite Injuries: Aggressive Tendencies Associated with Smaller Second to Fourth Digit Ratio.

BACKGROUND: Fight bite injuries are typically sustained by young, combative males and are the direct consequence of an aggressive act. Second to fourth digit ratios (2D:4D) are dependent on prenatal androgen exposure and lower ratios have been shown to be linked to various psychological and physical traits, including aggression. The aim of this study was to examine the 2D:4D ratios in a cohort of patients with fight bite injuries and compare these to an age and gender-matched control group. METHODS: The 2D:4D ratios were calculated using plain films of the hand from 133 patients (122 males, 11 females) with fight bite injuries. A further 133 radiographs were obtained from patients that did not have fight bite injuries and digit ratios were calculated in the same fashion. Statistical analysis was then carried out to compare the 2D:4D ratios between the different groups. RESULTS: The 2D:4D ratios for male fight bite patients was significantly smaller than the male control group (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between the female fight bite patients and the female control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Fight bite injuries are usually sustained as a result of aggression. 2D:4D ratios are reflect intrauterine androgen exposure and low ratios have been linked to aggressive tendencies. We have demonstrated that male patients who sustained fight bite injuries have a lower 2D:4D ratio then the general population, thereby suggesting that exposure to prenatal androgens can lead to aggressive tendencies in adulthood. This suggests that lower ratios may predict a predisposition to acts of aggression, and as such result in an increased likelihood of sustaining an injury such as a fight bite.

Animal and human bite injuries: a 5-year retrospective study in a large urban public hospital in Venezuela.

INTRODUCTION: Animal bite injuries to the head and neck regions are an important public health problem. Most of these bites are from dogs. A 10-year retrospective study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of animal and human bites. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was done from January 2011 to December 2016 and included 387 patients with a mean age of 21.51 years. Data collection included age, sex, days of hospitalization, lesion type, and clinical management. RESULTS: Majority of patients were in age group of 21-29 years, followed by 31-55 years. Out of the total 281 patients, 42 patients (51.60%) were males and 34 patients (48.40%) were females. Mean hospital stay was 7.2 days with a minimum of 5 days and a maximum of 12 days. Surgical management included cleansing and primary closure of the wound. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the use of empiric antibiotic prophylaxis is essential for management of facial animal bite, and the antibiotic of first choice is amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. The aim of immediate surgical repair (< 6 h) is to avoid infections. The persistence of dog bite is public health problem in Venezuela.

Biting myself so I don't bite the dust: prevalence and predictors of deliberate self-harm and suicide ideation in Azorean youths

Objective: To characterize non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors, methods, and functions as well as suicide ideation in the adolescent population of a Portuguese community in São Miguel Island, Azores. Increasing rates of NSSI behaviors among adolescents have been observed globally, while suicidal behavior has been pointed as a major cause of death during adolescence. Methods: A sample of 1,763 adolescents, aged 14 to 22, was randomly drawn from public and private schools and administered a set of self-report questionnaires. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to look for specific relationships and predictors of NSSI and suicide ideation in this isolated community. Results: Approximately 30% of youths reported at least one NSSI behavior, a rate that is twice as high as most studies carried out in mainland Portugal and in other European countries. Biting oneself was the most frequent form of NSSI, and NSSI behaviors served predominantly automatic reinforcement purposes (i.e., regulation of disruptive emotional states). NSSI and suicide ideation encompassed different distal and proximal risk factors. Conclusions: Exploring and characterizing these phenomena is necessary to provide a better understanding, enhance current conceptualizations, and guide the development of more effective prevention and intervention strategies in youths.

Biting myself so I don't bite the dust: prevalence and predictors of deliberate self-harm and suicide ideation in Azorean youths.

OBJECTIVE:: To characterize non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors, methods, and functions as well as suicide ideation in the adolescent population of a Portuguese community in São Miguel Island, Azores. Increasing rates of NSSI behaviors among adolescents have been observed globally, while suicidal behavior has been pointed as a major cause of death during adolescence. METHODS:: A sample of 1,763 adolescents, aged 14 to 22, was randomly drawn from public and private schools and administered a set of self-report questionnaires. Descriptive and regression analyses were used to look for specific relationships and predictors of NSSI and suicide ideation in this isolated community. RESULTS:: Approximately 30% of youths reported at least one NSSI behavior, a rate that is twice as high as most studies carried out in mainland Portugal and in other European countries. Biting oneself was the most frequent form of NSSI, and NSSI behaviors served predominantly automatic reinforcement purposes (i.e., regulation of disruptive emotional states). NSSI and suicide ideation encompassed different distal and proximal risk factors. CONCLUSIONS:: Exploring and characterizing these phenomena is necessary to provide a better understanding, enhance current conceptualizations, and guide the development of more effective prevention and intervention strategies in youths.

[Mammal bite management]. / Manejo de las mordeduras por mamíferos.

BACKGROUND: Animal bites are a major public health problem, it is estimated that 2% of the population is bitten each year. Most bites are by dogs and the risk factors include young children, men, certain breeds of dogs and untrained dogs. The risk of infection after bites differs between animal species and depends on the animal teeth and oral flora. CONCLUSIONS: Animal bites are still a major cause of morbidity in patients of all ages and have caused several preventable childhood deaths. These wounds often become infected. If the wound requires it, early surgical evaluation must be performed. The use of antibiotics is only recommended for high risk bite wounds.

Manejo práctico de mordeduras en Atención Primaria y en nuestro medio / Animal bites in Spain. Pediatric guideline for Primary Care

Se estima que las mordeduras de animales representan aproximadamente el 1% de las consultas pediátricas urgentes. El miedo popular, sobre todo a la temida rabia, sumado a la presencia de una aparatosa herida, hace que la consulta genere una importante preocupación en los padres. Sin embargo, cuando se trata de una mordedura de serpiente, no es raro que los padres estén tranquilos y sea el pediatra el que muestre preocupación. Se presenta una revisión sobre el tema con el objetivo principal de recomendar una actitud general para tratar las mordeduras en niños. Se realizan además una serie de apreciaciones sobre algunos casos en particular, como por ejemplo las mordeduras de serpiente, siempre valorando las posibilidades reales en territorio español, sin considerar animales tropicales o exóticos. También se aborda en un apartado especial el riesgo de transmisión de la rabia en nuestro medio (AU)

It is estimated that animal bites account for about 1% of pediatric emergency department visits. The popular fear, especially the dreaded rabies, coupled with the presence of a large wound, usually causes fear in parents. However, when the bite comes from a snake, it is not uncommon that parents feel relaxed, whereas the one who is concerned is the pediatrician. A review of the subject is presented with the aim of recommending a general attitude to treat animal bites in children. Several comments about some particular cases are also described, such as snake bites, always considering the real possibilities in the Spanish territory, regardless tropical or exotic animals. The risk of rabies transmission in our country is also covered in this document (AU)

Animal and Human Bite Wounds.

BACKGROUND: 30,000 to 50,000 injuries are caused by bites in Germany every year. Dog and cat bites are common, human bites relatively rare. 25% of the victims are under age 6, and 34% are aged 6 to 17. METHODS: This review is based on pertinent literature retrieved by a selective search and on the authors' clinical and scientific experience. RESULTS: In small children, most bite wounds are on the head and neck; in older children and adolescents, most are on the limbs. Bite injuries range from trivial ones needing no medical intervention to major soft-tissue defects with the loss of functionally important structures. A bite can transmit unusual pathogens from the saliva into the wound. The risk of infection after a bite is 10-20%, and about 30-60% of the infections are of mixed aerobic-anaerobic origin. Prophylactic antibiotics are recommended only for wounds that are considered at high risk of infection in view of their type and location, the species of the biting animal, and the characteristics of the patient. CONCLUSION: Structured surgical management of bite wounds is the most important factor in the prevention of infection. High-risk wounds must be differentiated from trivial ones. Interdisciplinary management is advisable for wounds on the hands and face.

The current concepts in management of animal (dog, cat, snake, scorpion) and human bite wounds.

UNLABELLED: Animal and human bite wounds represent a significant global health issue. In the United States, animal and human bites are a very common health issue, causing significant morbidity and even, in rare scenarios, mortality. Most animal bite wounds in the United States are caused by dogs, with cat bites being a distant second. Human bite wounds constitute a dominant subset of all bite wounds. Several studies of bite wounds have reported improved outcomes with early diagnosis and immediate treatment. However, the available literature on the initial treatment provides a plethora of conflicting opinions and results. In this review, our aim was to identify and assess the current evidence on the management of animal (dog, cat, insects, scorpions, and snakes) and human bite wounds. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Review article, level III.

[The assessment of bite injuries from a forensic point of view]. / Die Beurteilung von Hundebissverletzungen aus gerichtsärztlicher Sicht.

The identification of a bite injury and its differentiation between human and animal origin demand a high level of special knowledge from the examining physician. The evaluation of bite injuries in terms of their hazard potential, risk profile and origin is usually done by a forensic specialist based on medical record documentation after immediate medical treatment. Therefore, as a first responder, a detailed documentation of the entire injury pattern is essential. If necessary, samples for further DNA analysis should be taken.The present article is intended to give a brief introduction to various aspects of bite injuries as well as to point out possibilities and limitations of the assessment of such cases.

Intraoperative motor evoked potential monitoring - a position statement by the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring.

The following intraoperative MEP recommendations can be made on the basis of current evidence and expert opinion: (1) Acquisition and interpretation should be done by qualified personnel. (2) The methods are sufficiently safe using appropriate precautions. (3) MEPs are an established practice option for cortical and subcortical mapping and for monitoring during surgeries risking motor injury in the brain, brainstem, spinal cord or facial nerve. (4) Intravenous anesthesia usually consisting of propofol and opioid is optimal for muscle MEPs. (5) Interpretation should consider limitations and confounding factors. (6) D-wave warning criteria consider amplitude reduction having no confounding factor explanation: >50% for intramedullary spinal cord tumor surgery, and >30-40% for peri-Rolandic surgery. (7) Muscle MEP warning criteria are tailored to the type of surgery and based on deterioration clearly exceeding variability with no confounding factor explanation. Disappearance is always a major criterion. Marked amplitude reduction, acute threshold elevation or morphology simplification could be additional minor or moderate spinal cord monitoring criteria depending on the type of surgery and the program's technique and experience. Major criteria for supratentorial, brainstem or facial nerve monitoring include >50% amplitude reduction when warranted by sufficient preceding response stability. Future advances could modify these recommendations.

Human bites: bloodborne pathogen risk and postexposure follow-up algorithm.

Human bites may transmit bloodborne pathogens (BPs) by exposing the biter's oral mucosa to the bitee's blood and the bite wound to biter's saliva. Consequently, bites may require postexposure follow-up per the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) BP standard. Literature reveals that BP transmission via bites is rare. Review of available records in our developmental center identified no bite-related BP transmission between 1993 and 2011. To avoid unnecessary testing while remaining OSHA-compliant, we propose an algorithm for selective follow-up of bites. Since hepatitis B virus can be transmitted by mucosal exposure to blood and, rarely, also by nonintact skin exposure to blood-free saliva, all biters and bitees require hepatitis B follow-up. Since hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmissions require "visible blood" exposure, and since saliva is usually bloodfree, risk of HCV-HIV transmission from biter to bitee is negligible. Therefore biters need HCV-HIV testing only after bloody saliva bites. Since biter's oral mucosa invariably gets exposed to bitee's blood (reverse exposure), all bitees should be tested for HCV-HIV infectivity. Our proposed algorithm may prevent harm and waste from unnecessary biter testing and venipuncture.

Tongue biting in epileptic seizures and psychogenic events: an evidence-based perspective.

Tongue biting (TB) may occur both in seizures and in psychogenic non-epileptic events (PNEEs). We undertook a systematic review to determine sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios (LR) of TB. Five studies (222 epilepsy patients and 181 subjects with PNEEs) were included. There was a statistically significant higher prevalence of TB (both without further specifications on site of lesions and lateral TB) in patients with seizures. Pooled accuracy measures of TB (no further specifications) were sensitivity 38%, specificity 75%, pLR 1.479 (95% CI 1.117-1.957), and nLR 0.837 (95% CI 0.736-0.951). Pooled measures of lateral TB were sensitivity 22%, specificity 100%, pLR 21.386 (95% CI 1.325-345.169), and nLR 0.785 (95% CI 0.705-0.875). Only a pooled analysis of data demonstrated a statistically significant pLR for lateral TB. Lateral TB but not 'any' TB has diagnostic significance in distinguishing seizures from PNEEs, supporting the diagnosis of seizures. Tongue biting without further specifications has, therefore, no value in the differential diagnosis between seizures and PNEEs.

Animal and human bites in children.

BACKGROUND: Mammals that live closely and interact with man and man himself can inflict injury on children in the home through bites. Previous reports on mammalian bites in Nigeria are few and mainly on dogs, though other mammals also inflict injuries on children. There are also no reports on the injuries arising from the bites of these other mammals. OBJECTIVE: To document the range, pattern, distribution and complications of mammalian bites in children. METHODS: The hospital records of all patients aged 18 years and below with history of animal and human bite admitted over a twelve-year period from January 1994 to December 2005 were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 105 episodes of human and animal bites recorded in the registers of the hospital but the case notes of only 83 (79%) could be found. The male to female ratio for cases bitten was 2: 1. There were 62 (74.7%) cases of dog bites, 17 (20.5%) of human bites, 3 (3.6%) rat bites and 1 (1.2%) monkey bite. Of the dog bites, 68% were by vagrant and unvaccinated animals. The children presented with superficial and deep tissue injuries. Rabies was the most severe complication noted. CONCLUSION: Dogs are the most common mammals involved in the biting of children. Such bites lead to many morbidities and mortalities; bacterial and viral infections and death. There is a need to enforce the existing policy on the control of dogs and animals generally.

Mucocele--a study of 36 cases.

BACKGROUND: Mucocele is one of the most common benign soft tissue tumor present in the oral cavity. They are of two types - one is extravasation and second one is retention type but the majority are extravasation type. AIMS: The objective is to determine various factors related to mucocele such as role of trauma due to nearby teeth, recurrence, duration, and to find out whether there is any role of psychological stress which initiates trauma like lip or cheek biting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 36 cases of mucocele diagnosed at the Department of the Oral Pathology, Govt. Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, between 2004 and 2008 were reviewed. The clinical data were recorded and histopathologic diagnosis was made. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data analysis tool, Microsoft Office Excel 2007. RESULTS: A diagnosis of mucocele was established in 36 cases with male-to-female ratio of 1.77:1. Most common type was extravasation in 30 (83.33%) cases. The peak age of occurrence was between 1st and 3rd decade. Lateral side of the lower labial mucosa was the most affected site in 34 (94.44%) cases. The history of trauma appeared the major etiological factor seen in 28 (77.77%) cases. CONCLUSION: We conclude that there was male predominance and they were more affected in 2nd and 3rd decade. The lateral side of lower labial mucosa was the commonest site and the trauma due to teeth or lip biting was the major etiological factor for the occurrence of the mucocele. The article highlights role of psychological stress in occurrence of mucocele. The reader should understand the importance of histopathology examination and should try to control the psychological stress in such mucocele patients.

Workplace assaults on nursing assistants in US nursing homes: a multilevel analysis.

OBJECTIVES: We examined risk factors for injuries to nursing assistants from assaults by nursing home residents at both the individual and the organizational level. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2004 National Nursing Assistant Survey that were linked to facility information from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey by use of multilevel modeling that accounted for the complex survey design effect. RESULTS: Thirty-four percent of nursing assistants surveyed reported experiencing physical injuries from residents' aggression in the previous year. Mandatory overtime (odds ratio [OR] = 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22, 2.24) and not having enough time to assist residents with their activities of daily living (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.25, 1.78) were strongly associated with experiencing injuries from assaults. Nursing assistants employed in nursing homes with Alzheimer care units were more likely to experience such injuries, including being bitten by residents. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing mandatory overtime and having a less demanding workload may reduce the risk of workplace violence. In particular, prevention activities should be targeted at those nursing homes that care for cognitively impaired patients.

Agressão humana e marcas de mordidas: a vulnerabilidade de mulheres e crianças / Aggression and human bite marks: the vulnerability of women and children

Este trabalho apresenta os resultados de urn estudo sobre 0 comportamento agressivo humano, enfatizando as diversas implicações das marcas de mordidas produzidas por agressores e vitimas, notadamente quando se trata de estupro ou violência sexual, violencia domestica e abuso sexual. Essas ocorrencias costumam acontecer em espaços domesticos/privados, pressupondo, portanto, um contato direto, fisico, entre agressores e vitimas, que se situam em posições assimetricas, pois os primeiros, em geral homens adultos, ameaçam e brutalizam mulheres e crianças, frequentemente mais fracas e vulneniveis, fisica e socialmente. A violencia produz impactos incomensuniveis no sistema publico de saude e na sociedade em geral, mas primordialmente em suas incontaveis vitimas. Entretanto, os crimes tidos como mais serios e ameaçadores São aqueles cometidos mediante 0 uso de armas de fogo ou armas brancas, entre pessoas simetricas (homens adultos) e mais comuns em ambientes publicos. As ocorrencias que tem lugar no cenario domestico, quando as vitimas São mulheres e crianças, nao São levadas tao a serio (e, por isso, mais toleradas e negligenciadas), o que acarreta a subnotificaçao desses crimes e um subcomparecimento das vítimas aos orgaos jurídicos e policiais, entre os quais se encontram os IMLs, que se ocupam dos exames de corpo de delito. Os dados avaliados neste estudo procedem de multiplas fontes: literatura academica especializada, materias jomalísticas, notícias compiladas no Arquivo Digital da Folha de S. Paulo, informações registradas em Relatorios elaborados pelo IML/Sede do municipio de Sao Paulo e imagens disponíveis no Google imagens.

A 4-year review of human bite injuries presenting to emergency medicine and proposed evidence-based guidelines.

Human bite injuries are a common injury, roughly accounting for around 0.1% of attendances to Emergency Medicine departments. Morbidities associated with such injuries are legion. Of paramount importance is the potential for infection of the wound site, both bacterial and viral. A retrospective 4-year review of 3136 case notes was conducted, identifying 421 human bites. This amounts to one every 3 days! The majority of those bitten were young males (male:female ratio=3:1; 44% comprising the age group 16-25 years). The management of these wounds was found to be poor. 17% of patients did not receive any antibiotic cover; 21% of patients either did not have tetanus prophylaxis administered when required or had a tetanus booster when they were already covered; 34% of patients either did not receive a hepatitis B booster when one was required or received one when they were already covered. This lack of effective documentation, along with errors in addressing prophylaxis of the infective agents, may have profound medico-legal consequences. The author believes that the findings will be reproduced in other centres and in view of the inadequacies highlighted by this work, it is necessary to introduce an evidence-based protocol for the comprehensive management of the human bite. Using United Kingdom Department of Health evidence-based guidelines, the author proposes such a pathway.