CONTEXT:

Dog bites that result in injuries occur frequently, but how frequently dog bite injuries necessitate medical attention at a hospital or hospital admission is unknown.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the incidence and characteristics of dog bite injuries treated in US emergency departments (EDs).

DESIGN:

Emergency department survey from the National Center for Health Statistics National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1992 to 1994.

PATIENTS:

National probability sample of patients visiting EDs.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:

Incidence of dog bites treated in EDs, defined as a cause of injury recorded as the E-code E906.0.

RESULTS:

The 3-year annualized, adjusted, and weighted estimate of new dog bite-related injury visits to US EDs was 333687, a rate of 12.9 per 10000 persons (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.5-15.4). This represents approximately 914 new dog bite injuries requiring ED visits per day. The median age of patients bitten was 15 years, with children, especially boys aged 5 to 9 years, having the highest incidence rate (60.7 per 10000 persons for boys aged 5 to 9 years). Children seen in EDs were more likely than older persons to be bitten on the face, neck, and head (73% vs 30%). We estimated that for each US dog bite fatality there are about 670 hospitalizations and 16000 ED visits.

CONCLUSIONS:

Dog bite injuries are an important source of injury in the US population, especially among children. Improved surveillance and prevention of dog bite-related injuries, particularly among children, are needed.