Caracterización clínico-epidemiológica de accidentes por mordedura canina en población infantil registrados en el Hospital del IESS Durán. Periodo 2023 – 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Dog bite accidents represent a critical public health problem, disproportionately affecting children due to their physical and behavioral vulnerability. The home environment poses the greatest risk for serious injuries, primarily due to interactions initiated by the child. Objective: The general objective is to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of dog bite accidents in children treated at the IESS Durán Hospital during the period of 2023-2024. Methodology: This study employs a non-experimental, observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive design. Results: 119 children were identified with a diagnosis of dog bite. The majority of cases involved male children (56.30%), aged between 5 and 9 years (54.62%), and the attack occurred in public spaces. The dog was most frequently owned by a neighbor (29.41%). The most affected anatomical area was the fingers (48.74%), with a grade I abrasion (64.71%). The attack was most often provoked (57.98%). Conclusion: This study confirms that children (average age 7 years) are the most affected by dog bites, regardless of the environment. The location of the wound is not random; it depends directly on where it occurs. In public spaces, there is a higher probability of trauma to distal extremities (fingers).