KARACHI, Feb 7: Cases of serious injuries caused by human beings biting one another with their teeth during fights have registered a significant rise in the city over the past four years, reveals figures obtained by Dawn.

Sources at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) said in the past four years the number of human-bite cases reported at the hospital had shown a rising trend, compared with dog-bite cases which had declined in the same period, as statistics showed.

One has to use a unusual word, human-bite, for want of a better expression, to describe cases of injuries caused by human beings to one another by their teeth.

Last year 27 cases of human-bite were reported at the JPMC, and in the preceding year 32 such cases were treated at the hospital. Twenty-three cases were reported in 1999 and 24 in 1998, respectively, at the hospital, statistics showed.

In the same period comparatively fewer cases of dog-bite had been reported at the JPMC. Figures for dog-bite cases reported at the JPMC in the past four years are: 306 in 2001, 817 in 2000, 1,272 in 1999, and 1,188 in 1998.

The sources claimed that anti-pye dog campaigns undertaken at frequent intervals had brought down the incidence of dog-bite in the city.

Most of the cases of human-bite took place during fights among adults.

Often fights broke out over petty matters resulting in cuts and bruises, during which people also used their teeth on one another causing grievous injuries.

Under the Qisas & Diyat Ordinance, a muscle-deep bite carried a maximum of three years’ imprisonment, a medicolegal officer at the JPMC said.

Injuries caused by human teeth can be as dangerous as those caused by dog’s teeth or those of other animals because of the types of bacteria and virus present in the human mouth.

Doctors say many serious diseases, including hepatitis and even HIV, can be transmitted through human-bite, if the injury is deep enough and not treated in time.

It had been observed that people usually use their teeth on one another during fights in summer, probably due to rise in tempers following the rise in temperature, sources at the hospital said.

Signs of infection included swelling, redness or tenderness on the place where teeth were used. Fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, redness or a burning sensation at the place of bite were also experienced by victims, doctors said.

“Generally illiterate people bite one another with their teeth during fights. Infection can be caused by a number of bacteria that are present in the human mouth,” a medicolegal officer at the JPMC said.

Besides, children also often bite one another during fight or play.

Dr Uzma Ambareen, Clinical Director of the Institute of Behavioural Sciences, said human-bite was a symbolic form of aggression that was primitive in nature.

“If a person is firmly in the hold of his/her opponents during a fight, his/her teeth are the only possible weapon, through which he/she can attack the adversary/adversaries.

“Children suffering from mental disabilities often bite one another with their teeth, and people suffering from various mental disorders also do this,” she said.