1. RANY KĄSANE U DZIECI - PROBLEM LECZNICZY I SPOŁECZNY.
- Author
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Kubus, Maciej, Andrzejewska, Ewa, and Kuzański, Wojciech
- Subjects
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CHILDREN'S injuries , *CHILD health services , *WOUNDS & injuries , *ANESTHESIA , *PEDIATRIC surgery , *BACTERIAL diseases - Abstract
Introduction: Bite wounds in children, because of frequent occurrence, severity and consequences of the phenomenon, are a significant social problem. Sometimes, the healing process requires the involvement of physicians of many specialties and psychological care. Bites have been the cause of about 1.5% of cases of injuries in children treated in the emergency department (ED). Most patients did not require hospitalization. A young child's age, extent and location of the injury and the need for intravenous antibiotics and wound supplies under general anesthesia have been the basis for treatment in hospital. In Poland, vaccination against rabies in dogs over 3 months of age is mandatory. Avoiding this obligation results in the need to include prophylaxis against rabies in bite victims. Aim of the study: Clinical evaluation of patients treated in the Department of Pediatric Surgery and Oncology of the Medical University in Łódź with a diagnosis of bite wounds. Material and methodchv6: The study group consisted of 122 children hospitalized in the6 years 2000-2010. Patients' injuries were the consequence of bite wounds. The study was retrospective. We analyzed the medical history and operational protocols used for children under general anesthesia. Results: The victims of the attack in 67 (55%) cases were boys. 3 (35%) patients were younger than 4 years of age, while 38 (31%) children were older than 7 years of age. Face injuries were the most frequent - 77 (63%) children. Another part of the body most frequently attacked were the upper limbs - 36 (30%) children. In 18 children (15%), the injuries involved multiple body regions. For the majority of patients hospital treatment proceeded without complications. Wound infections were found in 17 children (14%). The length of hospitalization in 77 (63%) cases was more than 4 days. Conclusion: Bite wounds injuries have been frequent in young children under 7 years of age. Face as the location of the injury was closely related to the age of the child. Bacterial infections in the wound usually occurred as a result of bite wounds of the face. It is important to control the status of anti-tetanus vaccination and to decide to vaccine against rabies if necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012