Psychological Sequelae of Dog Bites in Children: A Review

Although rare in the Western world, dog bites may be lethal or lead to physically severe outcomes. However, little attention is given to their psychological consequences. We aimed to review their psychological consequences in children 1-14 years of age, focusing on the prevalence and nature of psychological disorders, evaluating the impact on future mental health of children and their families, and assessing the effectiveness of preventive interventions and measures.

On 23 May 2024, we investigated the PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO/PsycARTICLES databases using ("dog bite" OR animal-induced OR animal-caused) AND (psychol* OR mental OR psychiatr* OR anxiety OR anxious OR depress* OR obsess* OR trauma* OR psychosis OR psychotic OR schizophren* OR schizoaffect*) filtered for ages 0-18 years. This resulted in 311 records, of which 50 were eligible. These included original research, case reports, patient surveys, and reviews/meta-analyses.

Findings indicate that younger children are particularly vulnerable, often suffering head/neck bites, leading to severe injuries and psychological distress, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being a common outcome. Symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, and social withdrawal were frequently reported. Positive parental support and timely psychological interventions were found to mitigate these effects.

Interdisciplinary approaches integrating education, cognitive restructuring, and behaviour modification are needed to effectively prevent and address the psychological impacts of dog bites. Summarising, dog bites in children result in substantial psychological sequelae, necessitating robust prevention and intervention strategies to improve their quality of life and reduce the risk of chronic mental conditions.