Dog bites that send humans to the hospital are on the upswing, according to new data. The number of people admitted to the hospital because of dog bites grew by 86% from 1993 to 2008 — 5,100 cases in 1993 and 9,500 in 2008.
An average of 866 people go to a hospital emergency room daily and an average of 26 are admitted for their injuries, based on the 2008 data, said statisticians from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The analysis found that seniors and young children (especially those ages 5 to 9) are the most likely to be seriously injured by dog bites, and people in rural areas made four times as many emergency department visits for bites compared with urban dwellers.
Full story: Man’s best friend? Severe dog bite injuries have increased