11 Facts You Need To Know About Rabies
Fact #1: Rabies can be transmitted from all mammals including cats,
monkeys and not just dogs.
Transmitted mainly through the saliva, the bite or scratch of an infected
animal can lead to infection. Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not the only
animals that spread rabies. All mammals like cats, cows, horses, monkeys
and bats can carry the virus. Other animals like rats also can be
infected by the virus, but usually die quickly and do not have the capability of
spreading the disease. In the case of mammals, the virus has a long incubation
period that allows them to spread the disease.
Fact #2: Rabies is incurable
It is imperative that a person who has suffered a bite from an animal visit a
doctor immediately to get the vaccine. This is because rabies is incurable once
a person starts showing symptoms of the disease, which may be any time from one
to three months. Although in rare cases a person might notice the symptoms as
early as one week or as late as one year. According to Dr A.K Gupta,’Rabies is
100% fatal’.
Fact #4: Symptoms could be very vague
Initially the symptoms are fever, lethargy, headaches along with pain
or a pin prick like feeling around the site of the wound. Within a few
days as the condition progresses it results in a fatal inflammation of
the brain and the spinal cord resulting in symptoms like anxiety, confusion and
agitation. This then progresses to a state of delirium, hallucinations and
insomnia.
Fact #5: Rabies could manifest as different types
In furious rabies, the person is hyperactive, aggressive,
suffers from hydrophobia (a fear of water) and in some cases aerophobia (a fear
of flying). A few days after these symptoms present, the patient usually dies of
cardio-respiratory failure.
In paralytic rabies, the progression is far slower than its
furious form. Amongst the people who contract the disease, about 30 percent of
them suffer from this type of rabies. Here the patient’s muscles gradually get
paralyzed starting from the site of the bite. This then slowly progresses
leading to a coma and then death.
Fact #6: Diagnosis of rabies is very difficult
As the virus is usually found only in brain tissue, there is no method to
diagnose the presence of rabies infection in human beings before the onset of
the symptoms.
Fact #7: After a bite, always visit a doctor
Right after the bite or scratch it is important that the patient visit a
doctor for care to curb any infection arising from the bite itself. The wound
will be cleaned and dressed appropriately. It is important to note that a bite
or scratch from an animal can lead to various types of infections and not only
rabies. According to Dr A.K Gupta, renowned physician, ‘ A person bitten by an
animal capable of transmitting rabies should get treatment as early as
possible.’
Fact #8: Not all bite victims need to be given the rabies
vaccine
Once the wound is dressed appropriately, the doctor will then assess the
chances of the patient having contracted rabies. This evaluation is decided
depending on the type of animal bite and if the patient knows the owner of the
animal. Knowing if the animal has been given appropriate vaccines is essential
to administering the rabies vaccine. If the animal in question is suspected of
having rabies, only then will the patient will be administered PEP (Post
exposure prophylaxsis).
Here is a chart representing the recommended care for a patient after
exposure to a rabid animal given by the WHO.
Category of exposure to suspect rabid animal
Post-exposure measures
Category I – touching or feeding animals, licks on intact
skin (i.e. no exposure)
None
Category II – nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or
abrasions without bleeding
Immediate vaccination and local treatment of the wound
Category III – single or multiple transdermal bites or
scratches, licks on broken skin; contamination of mucous membrane with saliva
from licks and exposures to bats.
Immediate vaccination and administration of rabies immunoglobulin; local
treatment of the wound
Fact # 9: Taking the rabies vaccine does not mean you need to get
countless injections
PEP is a three step process where the patient’s wounds are
dressed and he/she is given the post exposure vaccine.
Four doses of the vaccine are administered along with the
rabies immunoglobulin on the day of exposure and following shots are given on
the third day, seventh day and fourteeth day.
Fact #10:The injections are not given on the stomach
The rabies vaccine is to be administered intramuscualarly and is usually
administered in the muscle of the upper arm.
Fact #11: Prevention is better than cure
If a person has been bitten by an animal suspected of having rabies, he or
she must immediately wash the wound with a mild antibacterial soap and running
water. Washing the wound well for about fifteen minutes with fresh water goes a
long way in removing a large amount of bacteria. The next step would be to
immediately visit a doctor for appropriate care .