Surge in dog bites sparks fear psychosis

Srinagar, Dec 18: A rising wave of dog bites is not only causing physical health concerns but also leaving a lasting impact on the mental health of residents, particularly children.

Both Downtown and uptown areas in Srinagar are witnessing a surge in anxiety and fear among people, hindering their outdoor activities.

Parents are increasingly worried about the safety of their children, as aggressive dog encounters become more frequent. The psychological toll is evident, with children avoiding outdoor activities and going tuition due to the fear of dogs.

Local resident Fareeda shared her distressing experience, recounting a recent dog attack on her seven-year-old, leading to anxiety issues.

"Our children cannot go to tuitions due to the fear of dogs. Recently, a dog attacked my seven- year- old kid. But fortunately, one of our neighbours saved him. But now he doesn't want to go out of his home. He has anxiety issues," said Fareeda, a local resident living in downtown Srinagar.

Raziya Zahoor from Bohri Kadal expressed the nightmares she experiences after a close encounter with stray dogs while returning home from tuition." I was with my children on the way back home from tution. We went through a lane where a number of dogs tried to attack us. Since then I have nightmares," she said.

The growing mental health concerns extend beyond immediate physical injuries, with experts warning of a potential public health crisis.

Mental health experts said that dog bite injuries can lead to severe psychological trauma, including anxiety, nightmares, and even PTSD, especially in young children.

Doctors in Kashmir said, besides, dog bite injuries which can be life-threatening or limb-threatening, due to internal organ injury, the dog bites spark fears of a public health crisis.

"People have scars on different parts of the body. It can have a negative impact on mental health. There is an uptick in the number of individuals seeking medical attention for dog bites in recent months" doctors said.

Dr Yasir Hassan, Professor at IMHANS highlighted the sudden sense of fear, pain, and restlessness triggered by the thought of a dog bite.

Dr Hassan told Greater Kashmir that young children going through an experience of dog bite may cause anxiety, excessive fear, nightmares or even PTSD and Phobias.

"The child will feel trauma and can develop a sense of phobia towards dogs. " We received cases of children who have developed anxiety and phobia-like symptoms after witnessing a dog bite," he said. incident.
The unregulated population of stray dogs, despite sterilization efforts by Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), is identified as a significant factor contributing to the escalating issue.

Dr. Muhammad Salim Khan, the head of the Department of Community Medicine at Government Medical College Srinagar, told Greater Kashmir that the unregulated population of stray dogs, despite some sterilization efforts by SMC (Srinagar Municipal Corporation), is a significant factor contributing to the rise in the dog population.

Dr Khan urged people to avoid areas where dogs roam freely and recommended carrying a stick or a can as a precaution. “Psychosocial consequences of trauma caused by a dog bite is clearly seen among the patients visiting the hospital,” he added.

He explained, "A female dog, with a life span of approximately 12-14 years, begins giving birth to offspring at the age of two, continuing every six months until old age. These frequent births contribute to the increasing dog population. People should avoid areas where dogs roam freely, especially during the morning, evening, and night-time," he said.

According to the National Health Research, dog bites and attacks can have long-lasting emotional consequences, ranging from anxiety to depression and PTSD. Some victims are left with scars and disfigurement that affect self-esteem, leading to an intense fear of dogs and reluctance to go outside.

“These range from anxiety to depression to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some bites leave scars and disfigurement that damage self-esteem. People are left with an intense fear of dogs. They aren't able to go outside for a long time after the attack. People with PTSD often have traumatic memories or dreams about an event that interferes with their daily lives."

According to the official data, over 60,000 dog bites cases have been registered at Anti-Rabies Clinic SMHS in a decade.

Over 4695 canine bite cases have been reported last year in the valley. The summer capital Srinagar has borne the brunt of dog bites, registering 4,843 cases between April 2023 and October 14, 2023.

Doctors in Kashmir said the need for a concrete approach to tackle the issue of dog menace in the valley is the need of the hour.

"There is a need for effective dog population control measures with mental health support for those affected," doctors said.