Rabies

Description

Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals. The rabies virus is usually transmitted through a bite.

The animals most likely to transmit rabies in the united States include bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and skunks. In developing countries, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people.

Once a person begins showing signs and symptoms of rabies, the disease almost always causes death. For this reason, any person who may have a risk of acquiring rabies must be vaccinated against rabies for the protection.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of rabies may be very similar to the flu and may last several days.

Later, the signs and symptoms may include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Agitation
  • Anxiety
  • The confusion
  • Hyperactivity
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Excessive salivation
  • Fear caused by attempts to drink fluids due to the difficulty of swallowing water
  • The fear caused by the air blown in the face
  • Hallucinations
  • Insomnia
  • Partial paralysis

When to see a doctor

Seek immediate medical attention if you are bitten by an animal or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies. Based on your injuries and the situation in which the exposure occurred, you and your doctor can decide if you should receive treatment to prevent rabies.

Even if you're not sure if you have been bitten, seek medical attention. For example, a bat that flies into your room while you are sleeping can bite you without waking you. If you wake up to find a bat in the room, assume that you have been bitten. Also, if you find a bat near a person who may not report a bite, like a small child or a person with disabilities, to assume that the person has been bitten.

Causes

The rabies virus causes an infection by rabies. The virus is spread through the saliva of infected animals. Infected animals can transmit the virus by biting another animal or a person.

In rare cases, rabies can be spread when infected saliva enters an open wound or the mucous membranes such as the mouth or eyes. This could happen if an infected animal licked with an open wound in the skin.

Animals that can transmit the rabies virus

Any mammal (an animal that suckles its young) can spread the rabies virus. The animals most likely to spread rabies to people are:

  • Cats
  • Cows
  • Dogs
  • Ferrets
  • Goats
  • Horses
  • Bats
  • Beavers
  • Coyotes
  • Foxes
  • The monkeys
  • Raccoons
  • Skunks
  • Marmots

In very rare cases, the virus has spread to tissues and organs organ transplant recipients infected.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of rabies include:

  • Traveling to or living in developing countries where rabies is more common
  • The activities that can be put in contact with wild animals that may have rabies, such as the exploration of the caves where the bats live or camping without taking precautions to keep wild animals away from your camp
  • Working as a veterinarian
  • I work in a lab with the rabies virus
  • The wounds on the head or neck, which may help the rabies virus and travel to your brain more quickly

Prevention

To reduce your risk of coming in contact with rabid animals:

  • Vaccinate your pets. Cats, dogs and ferrets can be vaccinated against rabies. Ask your veterinarian how often pets should be vaccinated.
  • Keep your pets confined. Keep your pets inside, and monitoring the outside. This will help keep your pets from coming into contact with wild animals.
  • To protect small animals from predators. Keep rabbits and other small animals like guinea pigs, on the inside or in a protected area of the cages so that they are safe from wild animals. These small animals may not be vaccinated against rabies.
  • Report stray animals to local authorities. Call your local animal control officials, or other local law enforcement to report stray dogs and cats.
  • Don't approach wild animals. Wild animals with rabies may seem afraid of people. It is not normal for a wild animal to be friendly with the people, so stay away from any animal that seems to be without fear.
  • Keep bats out of your home. Seal cracks and gaps where the bats can enter your home. If you know you have bats in your home, work with a local expert to find ways to keep bats out.
  • Consider the rabies vaccine if you're traveling or often around the animals that can have rabies.If you're traveling to a country where rabies is common and you're going to be there for an extended period of time, ask your doctor whether you should receive the rabies vaccine. This includes travel to remote areas where medical care is hard to find.

Consider the rabies vaccine if you're traveling or often around the animals that can have rabies. If you're traveling to a country where rabies is common and you're going to be there for an extended period of time, ask your doctor whether you should receive the rabies vaccine. This includes travel to remote areas where medical care is hard to find.

If you work as a veterinarian or working in a laboratory with the rabies virus, get the rabies vaccine.

Rabies

Diagnosis

At the time the potential of a rabid animal bites you, there is no way to know if the animal has transmitted the rabies virus to you. It is common not to find bite marks, too. The doctor may order a lot of tests to detect the rabies virus, but they may need to be repeated later to confirm if you are a carrier of the virus. Your doctor will probably recommend the treatment as soon as possible to prevent the rabies virus from infecting your body if there is a possibility that you may have been exposed to the rabies virus.

Treatment

Once the infection is established, there is no effective treatment. Although a small number of people have survived rabies, the disease usually causes death. For that reason, if you believe you have been exposed to the rabies virus, you should receive a series of vaccines to prevent the infection from taking hold.

The treatment for people who are bitten by an animal with rabies

If you have been bitten by an animal that is known to have rabies, you will receive a series of vaccines to prevent the rabies virus from infecting. If the animal that bit you can't be found, it may be safer to assume that the animal has rabies. But this will depend on several factors, such as the type of animal and the situation in which the bite occurred.

Rabies shots include:

  • A fast-acting shot (rabies immune globulin) to prevent the virus from infecting you. That is if you have not had the rabies vaccine. This injection is given near the area where the animal bit, if possible, as soon as possible after the bite.
  • A series of rabies vaccines to help your body learn to identify and fight the rabies virus. The vaccines are given as injections in the arm. If you haven't previously had the rabies vaccines, you will receive four injections over 14 days. If you have had the rabies vaccine, you will have two injections during the first three days.

Determine if the animal has rabies

In some cases, it is possible to determine if the animal has rabies before to begin the series of rabies shots. That way, if it is determined that the animal is healthy, you don't need the shots.

Procedures to determine if an animal has rabies vary depending on the situation. For example:

  • Pets and farm animals.Cats, dogs and ferrets that bite can be observed for 10 days to see if they have signs and symptoms of rabies. If the animal that bit you stay healthy during the observation period, then it does not have rabies, and do not need rabies shots. Other pets and farm animals are considered on a case-by-case basis. Talk with your doctor and public health authorities to determine if you should receive rabies shots.
  • Wild animals that can be captured. Wild animals that can be found and captured, like a bat came into your house, it can be killed and tested for rabies. The tests on the animals of the brain can reveal the rabies virus. If the animal does not have rabies, you don't need the shots.
  • The animals that can't be found. If the animal that bit can not be found, discuss the situation with your doctor and the local health department. In certain cases, it may be safer to assume that the animal had rabies and proceed with the vaccine against rabies. In other cases, it is unlikely that the animal that had little rage and you can determine that the rabies vaccinations are not necessary.

Pets and farm animals. Cats, dogs and ferrets that bite can be observed for 10 days to see if they have signs and symptoms of rabies. If the animal that bit you stay healthy during the observation period, then it does not have rabies, and do not need rabies shots.

Other pets and farm animals are considered on a case-by-case basis. Talk with your doctor and public health authorities to determine if you should receive rabies shots.

Preparing for your appointment

If an animal bites you, seek medical attention for the wound. Also tell your doctor about the circumstances of your injury. The doctor will ask:

  • What animal bit you?
  • It was a wild animal or a pet?
  • If it were a pet, do you know who is the animal? Was vaccinated?
  • It can describe the behavior of the animal before it bit you? It was the animal caused?
  • They were able to capture or kill the animals after a little?

What you can do in the meantime

Wash the wound carefully and thoroughly with soap and plenty of water. This can help to wash away the virus.

If the animal that bit can be contained or captured without causing further injury, to do so. Don't kill the animals with a blow or a shot in the head, as the resulting injuries can make it difficult to perform laboratory tests to determine if the animal has rabies.

Tell your doctor that you have captured the animal that bit you. Your doctor may then contact the local health department to determine what to do with the animal.

Symptoms and treatment of Rabies