A survey of hospitals managing human rabies cases in India.
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Date
2010-01
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Abstract
A survey of 23 infectious diseases (ID) hospitals/ID wards of general hospitals was done during 2008-09 to assess the facilities for and management of rabies patients. All were Government hospitals and 0.5% of total beds was earmarked for rabies cases. The hospitals were mostly run by medical colleges (47.8%) and ID hospitals (30.4%) and located outside city limits (52.2%). The patients were admitted to 'rooms (39.1%)' and 'wards (43.5%)'. The general conditions of rabies sections i.e. sanitation and linen (65%), space and toilet (52% and 56%) and bed (47.8%) require improvements. There is a need to improve staff availability, use of personal protective wears, preventive vaccination of care providers and medicinal supplies. It is recommended to encourage hospitalization of human rabies cases to ensure a 'painless and dignified death' and this must be considered as a 'human rights' issue.
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Keywords
Human rabies, infectious diseases hospitals, survey of patient care
Citation
Sudarshan M K, Narayana D H Ashwath. A survey of hospitals managing human rabies cases in India. Indian Journal of Public Health. 2010 Jan-Mar; 54(1): 40-41.