Relationships among injuries treated in an emergency department that are caused by different kinds of animals: epidemiological features.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse animal-related injury features treated in an emergency department.

METHODS

Inspection of all reports concerning animal-related injuries treated in the emergency department in 1998-1999, researched through non-codified diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 988 patients (1.66% of annual emergency department visits) were treated in the emergency department for animal-related injuries. Prevalence of the causing agent was as follows: insects 53.1% (74.9% not identified), mammals 30.9%, marine fauna 7.4%, arachnids 7.1%, reptiles 0.51%, birds 0.51% and intestinal parasites 0.4%. Sex prevalence was also noted: male 59.6%. Age most affected was III-IV decades. Month prevalence: August, except for arachnids, cats and reptiles. Mammals cause a number of lesions higher than any other group from November to May, while insect-related lesions are prevalent from June to October. In dog-related injuries, the upper right extremity prevails over the left (63%, P<0.001). Bites included 28.7% of all cases; cats caused only bite lesions in 50% of cases, and dogs in 95%. Allergic reactions were observed in 18.6% of patients with insect and marine fauna injuries. Vespids show the highest allergic reaction/injury ratio (44%). Hospital admittance was 2.7% of all animal-related injury visits (7.9 cases/100 000 residents).

CONCLUSIONS

Insects are the prevalent injuring animals but most are not identified; thus, dogs account for most injuries among identified animals (25.2% of total cases). Insects cause most hospitalizations because of allergic and infective complications (erysipelas). Mammalian and bird injuries being excluded, the diagnosis of 'animal lesion' was defined 'probable' in 11.7%; in some cases, a dermatologist's consultation is required. In serious allergic reactions, adrenaline is rarely used.