BMJ  2005;331:1269 (26 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1269-a

Letter

Human and animal health: strengthening the links

Preventing dog bites

EDITOR—Dog bites are a serious health issue. For example, in Belgium each year 1% of the general population needs medical attention after a dog bite.¹ Epidemiological data indicate that 50% of bites are not reported to medical or legal authorities.² Children seem to be more at risk of being bitten by a dog than any other age group.³ In children under 16 years of age, the incidence is estimated at 2.2% each year.² Injuries in children are often to the face and neck and may be life threatening.⁴

Most dog bites happen at home and involve the family pet.⁵ At the same time, dogs remain very popular as pets, and evidence for the physical, psychological, and social benefits of dog ownership is growing.^{w1 w2} Data from pet food companies indicate that about one third of families in Europe, and more than 5 million families in the United Kingdom, own a dog.^w3

A dog's tendency to bite depends on several interacting factors,^w4 and measures such as breed specific legislation, as adopted by some governments, are inappropriate.^{5 w4 w5} Tackling the problem requires a multifactorial, multidisciplinary approach.^{3 w4 w6}

In 2001, I participated in a collaborative study with paediatricians in Belgium into the circumstances surrounding dog bite incidents in children, at home and in public places.⁵ One of the findings was that most bites at home were triggered by an interaction from the child towards the dog. Many of these incidents might have been prevented if the parents and children had been more aware of how dogs react in certain situations. Much could therefore be achieved through improved education of parents and children.^{3 5 w4} On the basis of these findings, interactive educational material is being developed for use by children and their parents in families who own dogs.

Oostveldkouter 222, 9920 Lovendegem, Belgium
tiny.dekeuster{at}telenet.be

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See Reviews p 1278

Competing interests: None declared.

References w1-w6 are on bmj.com

References

1. Gisle L, Buziarsist J, Van der Heyden J, Demarest S, Miermans PJ, Sartor F, et al. Health enquiry by interview, Belgium, 2001. Brussels: Institute of Public Health, 2002. (IPH/EPI Report No 2002 - 22.)
2. Kahn A, Robert E, Piette D, De Keuster T, Lamoureux J, Levêque A, Prevalence of dog bites in children. A telephone survey. Eur J Pediatr 2004;163: 424.[Medline]
3. Love M, Overall K. How anticipating relationships between dogs and children can help prevent disasters. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;219: 446-52.[Medline]
4. Demunnynck K, Van de Voorde W, Forensic approach of fatal dog attacks: a case report and literature review. Int J Legal Med 2002;116: 295-300.[Medline]
5. Kahn A, Bauche P, Lamoureux J, Members of the Dog Bites Research Team. Child victims of dog bites treated in emergency departments. Eur J Pediatr 2003;162: 254-8.[Web of Science][Medline]

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