Children and young adults are most often the victims of animal bites. Men are more frequently bitten than women. The following is a brief survey of several common types of bites. Dog bites can, however, cover large areas. They ordinarily will not injure deep structures like bones, joints, tendons, and nerves, although they will often damage skin and the underlying muscle.
Dog bites can be particularly dangerous for small children.
In children below the age of two, dog bites can cause skull and facial bone fractures, cuts or tears of brain tissue, and central nervous system infections. Children are much more likely to sustain face, scalp, and neck bites than are adults. Frequently, the treatment of injured children involves hospitalization and surgical repair. In the U.S., an average of twenty people each year are killed by dog attacks. Seventy percent of the victims are children less than ten years of age.