Human bites in children. A six-year experience

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Baker-M-D. Moore-S-E. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Am-J-Dis-Child. 1987 Dec. 141(12). P 1285-90. Three hundred twenty-two human bites in children, occurring during a six-year period, were reviewed. The majority occurred during warm-weather months between 2 PM and 11 PM. The upper extremities (42%), face and neck (33%), and trunk (22%) were most commonly bitten. At the time of injury, children were most often engaged in fights (61%) or play (26%). Seventy-five percent of wounds were superficial abrasions, 13% were punctures, and 11% were lacerations. None of the 242 abrasions became infected as opposed to 38% of the punctures and 37% of the lacerations. Other factors associated with increased risk of infection were delay in initial physician assessment beyond 18 hours after injury, location of the [1mbite [m on the upper extremities, and occurrence of injury during sports activities. Prophylactic use of penicillin was probably not effective in reducing infection rates in these children; however, prospective data are needed to properly address this issue.