Young boy falls prey to gecko – A rare case of animal bite

According to reports from the United States, Australia, and Italy, animal bites in the human population are predominantly dog (80%) and cat (< 20%) bites [1]. The rest are caused by a very small percentage of wildlife, farm animals, rodents, and other pets. There are few epidemiological studies o...

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Main Authors: Yap, Pauline, Saw, Joo Ee, Wan Sulaiman, Wan Azman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kerman University of Medical Sciences 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117739/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117739/1/117739.pdf
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author Yap, Pauline
Saw, Joo Ee
Wan Sulaiman, Wan Azman
author_facet Yap, Pauline
Saw, Joo Ee
Wan Sulaiman, Wan Azman
author_sort Yap, Pauline
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description According to reports from the United States, Australia, and Italy, animal bites in the human population are predominantly dog (80%) and cat (< 20%) bites [1]. The rest are caused by a very small percentage of wildlife, farm animals, rodents, and other pets. There are few epidemiological studies on lizards in Malaysia. Available data shows 106 lizard species in Peninsular Malaysia, excluding the Bornean species (ADD on REF-1.grismer,2-lizard of Borneo). Lizards are a rare cause of animal bites in humans, especially in pediatric populations. There are over 3000 species of lizards with varying sizes, ranging from small house lizards to medium-sized geckos and larger monitor lizards with crocodile appearance. The world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon, is claimed to kill by envenomation rather than exerting brute force[2]. Despite this wild claim, only two lizards are venomous and medically significant: the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) from the southwest United States and Mexico and the Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum)[2]. Significant morbidity has been reported from their bites. Reported fatal complications from lizard bites include severe kidney injury and compartment syndrome (add ref 1, Arvind, 2, SAnjay). Many cases have reported bites from larger-sized lizards, but to the best of our knowledge, none in the literature reports bites from relatively smaller-sized geckos. However, the incidence of lizard bites have increased because the current generation has started a new trend of keeping lizards as pets (ref. Wong et al.). This case report intends to create awareness of the potential threats of relatively smaller lizards to humans, especially in the pediatric population.
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institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
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language English
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publisher Kerman University of Medical Sciences
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spelling upm-1177392025-07-10T02:51:07Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117739/ Young boy falls prey to gecko – A rare case of animal bite Yap, Pauline Saw, Joo Ee Wan Sulaiman, Wan Azman According to reports from the United States, Australia, and Italy, animal bites in the human population are predominantly dog (80%) and cat (< 20%) bites [1]. The rest are caused by a very small percentage of wildlife, farm animals, rodents, and other pets. There are few epidemiological studies on lizards in Malaysia. Available data shows 106 lizard species in Peninsular Malaysia, excluding the Bornean species (ADD on REF-1.grismer,2-lizard of Borneo). Lizards are a rare cause of animal bites in humans, especially in pediatric populations. There are over 3000 species of lizards with varying sizes, ranging from small house lizards to medium-sized geckos and larger monitor lizards with crocodile appearance. The world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon, is claimed to kill by envenomation rather than exerting brute force[2]. Despite this wild claim, only two lizards are venomous and medically significant: the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) from the southwest United States and Mexico and the Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum)[2]. Significant morbidity has been reported from their bites. Reported fatal complications from lizard bites include severe kidney injury and compartment syndrome (add ref 1, Arvind, 2, SAnjay). Many cases have reported bites from larger-sized lizards, but to the best of our knowledge, none in the literature reports bites from relatively smaller-sized geckos. However, the incidence of lizard bites have increased because the current generation has started a new trend of keeping lizards as pets (ref. Wong et al.). This case report intends to create awareness of the potential threats of relatively smaller lizards to humans, especially in the pediatric population. Kerman University of Medical Sciences 2024 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117739/1/117739.pdf Yap, Pauline and Saw, Joo Ee and Wan Sulaiman, Wan Azman (2024) Young boy falls prey to gecko – A rare case of animal bite. Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 32 (1-3). pp. 1-3. ISSN 1023-9510; eISSN: 2008-2843 https://jkmu.kmu.ac.ir/article_92252.html 10.34172/jkmu.3663
spellingShingle Yap, Pauline
Saw, Joo Ee
Wan Sulaiman, Wan Azman
Young boy falls prey to gecko – A rare case of animal bite
title Young boy falls prey to gecko – A rare case of animal bite
title_full Young boy falls prey to gecko – A rare case of animal bite
title_fullStr Young boy falls prey to gecko – A rare case of animal bite
title_full_unstemmed Young boy falls prey to gecko – A rare case of animal bite
title_short Young boy falls prey to gecko – A rare case of animal bite
title_sort young boy falls prey to gecko – a rare case of animal bite
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117739/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117739/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117739/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/117739/1/117739.pdf