Children Under 10 at Highest Risk of Dog Bites

Dog bites occur most often in children under 10, by dogs that the children know, particularly German shepherds and Dobermans, Austrian researchers report in the March issue of Pediatrics. Johannes Schalamon, M.D., and colleagues from the Medical University of Graz, reviewed the medical records of 341 children younger than 17 years old who had sought medical attention after a dog bite between 1994 and 2003. The researchers found that there were 0.5 dog bites per 1,000 children per year in this age group, with the incidence being highest in 1-year-olds and decreasing with increasing age. Eighty-two percent of the dogs were familiar to the children. The relative risk of attack by a German shepherd or Doberman was about five times higher than a Labrador/retriever or other crossbreed, according to the study. Ninety-four percent of the children were injured in one body area and half of all injuries were to the face, head or neck region. The researchers found that 27 percent of patients required inpatient treatment. "Dog bites in children are frequent and influenced by the breed-related behavior of dogs, dog owners, children and parents," the authors write. "Therefore, prevention strategies should focus on public education and training of dogs and their owners. Children who are younger than 10 years represent the high-risk group for dog attacks."