Assessment of Emergency Service Attendance Due to Rabies Suspect Animal Bites in the Van Region

Aim: Rabies is a zoonotic viral disease transmitted by the bite of an animal. In Turkey, 100,000 individuals are administered prophylaxis annually after contact with animals carrying the risk of rabies. In this study, we investigated compliance with treatment and the affecting factors. Materials and Methods: The study assessed data from a total of 813 patients with potential animal bites throughout the year 2013. Results: The mean age of participants in the study was 22.6 +/- 16.8 years, and 80.6% (n=655) were male. Participants of both sexes mainly attended in the spring and summer months; however, it was identified that the rate of women attending in winter was higher than men. Also, five doses of vaccination were ordered for nearly all patients, independent of immunoglobulin administration; however, the rate of patients completing all five doses remained at about 30%. Conclusion: Increasing awareness of rabies will aid in the control of the significant public health problem of potential bite cases. As the young population is at risk, it is necessary to take precautions for the childhood age group.