Epidemiology of Animal-Related Injuries: Insights from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the frequency, patterns, and management of animal-related injuries among patients presenting to the Emergency Department of a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, between 2020 and 2024. Method: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Emergency Medicine, Aga Khan University Hospital, from January 2020 to May 2024. Data were extracted using keywords and were recorded in REDCap. Variables analysed included patient demographics (age, gender), type of animal, injury site and pattern, triage category, number of healthy and immunocompromised patients, treatment provided, and discharge status. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 17.0. Results: Among 860 patients presenting with animal-related injuries, the majority were males (65.6%) and children aged 0–14 years (32.9%). Dogs were the leading source of injuries (42.3%), followed by cats (24.3%) and insects (13.4%). Most injuries occurred on the lower (35.8%) and upper extremities (29.7%), with bites being the predominant pattern (81.4%). In terms of management, half of the patients (50.0%) received rabies immunoglobulin and vaccine, and 37.8% received the tetanus vaccine. The majority of patients were discharged (88.3%), while only a small proportion left against medical advice (3.2%) or required admission (2.5%). Conclusion: Animal-related injuries in Pakistan predominantly affect males and children, with dog bites as the main source; while most patients received rabies vaccination and were discharged, prevention through awareness and vaccination remains crucial.