Dog bite injuries ‘much more common in deprived areas’

People living in the most deprived parts of the country are much more likely to be hospitalised due to an injury caused by a dog bite, according to new statistics.

Figures for England from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) revealed the rate of hospital admissions for dog bites and strikes for people living in the ten percent of most deprived areas was 24.1 per 100,000 for the 12 months ending January 2014.

By comparison, this fell to only 8.1 per 100,000 in the ten percent of wealthiest areas. Across the country as a whole, the number of hospital admissions caused by dogs and other mammals – such as horses, foxes and cats – rose by seven percent to 9,710.

The most common diagnosis was an open wound of the wrist or hand. It was also revealed that children suffered more injuries to their head than any other age group.

Kingsley Manning, chair of the HSCIC, said: "As we head towards the summer months, when admission rates for dog bites are at their highest, these trends may be worth further study by healthcare organisations and public sector bodies."

Infections are among the leading causes of health problems as a result of animal bites, meaning injuries of this kind need to be cleaned thoroughly and tended carefully.