Dog bites among children are a serious world health problem, according to the most recent report on children’s injuries by the World Health Organization and UNICEF. It has been possible to collect this data because of more thorough data coding used in hospital emergency rooms around the globe.
In Australia and the United States, there is a high incidence of dog bites among children, mostly between ages 4-9. Children at these young ages are small and tend to get their faces close to dogs, which results in injuries to the face and neck. Fortunately, dog bites are rarely fatal, but the high incidence of dog bites is worrisome and can result in serious injuries.
According to the data collected, most of the injuries to children occurred when they were playing with or near the dog, while the second highest number of incidents involved passing or walking the dog. In poor countries, dog bites may also include rabies. Rabies has been endemic in India, China and many parts of Africa.
Children can be trained how to behave when they are around dogs so they don’t unwittingly provoke an attack. Parents should teach their children to always let the dog sniff them before petting them, to never run away from a dog, to not approach a dog who is eating, to not try to hug or kiss a dog or move suddenly. Pet owners should also make sure they are alert when their dogs are around children and make sure it is a friendly and safe encounter.
For more information go to:
World Health Organization and UNICEF World Report on Child Injury Prevention, 2008,
The Alliance for Safe Children
