Human rabies: a descriptive observation of 21 children in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Objectives: Human rabies has recently emerged as a significant public health threat in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, there is little epidemiological information on human rabies especially in children.

Methods: We performed at Pediatrics Department of General Reference hospital of Kinshasa between December 2008 and July 2009, a retrospective study to assess the incidence and to describe their clinical aspects and outcome.

Results: A total of 21 cases were observed, rather three cases per month. There were 12 boys (57·1%) and 9 girls (42·9%). Biting animal was found to be dog in all cases (100%). The dog was not immunized in all of cases. On admission, all patients (100%) showed furious rabies manifestations. Only two (9·5%) had their wounds treated and received an anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) after the bite incident. Two (9·5%) patients received rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). The case-fatality rate was 100%.

Conclusions: The disease emerges as a new major public health problem because of a lack of knowledge regarding rabies risk, the poor management of dog bites. Preventative vaccination for rabies should be recommended in the population of Kinshasa, area at high risk to contract rabies, particularly in children.