Rabies – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments

Rabies – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments with Soap and Water. In addition, rabies , also called hydrophobia, is an infectious disease that can affect all mammals. The rabies virus is usually transmitted through a bite. Animals most likely to transmit rabies in the United States include bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks.

In developing countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, stray dogs are the most likely to spread rabies to people. Once a person starts to show signs and symptoms of rabies , the disease is almost always fatal. For this reason, anyone who is at risk of getting rabies should receive rabies vaccines for protection.

Causes of Rabies: Rabies  infection is caused by the rabies virus. The virus is spread through the saliva of infected animals. Infected animals can spread the virus by biting another animal or a person. In rare cases, rabies can be spread when infected saliva enters an open wound or mucous membranes such as the mouth or eyes. This could occur if an infected animal licked an open cut in its skin. Animals that can transmit the rabies virus . Any mammal (an animal that sucks its young) can transmit the rabies virus . Animals most likely to transmit the rabies virus to people include:

Pets and farm animals:

• Cats
• cows
• dogs
• ferrets
• goats
• horses

Wild animals:

• beavers
• coyotes
• foxes
• monkeys
• raccoon
• skunk
• marmot monax

In rare cases, the virus has been transmitted to tissue and organ transplant recipients from an infected organ.

Rabies Symptoms:  The first symptoms of rabies can be very similar to the flu and can last for days. Later signs and symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Nausea
• vomit
• agitation
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• hyperactivity
• Difficulty swallowing
• excessive salivation
• Fear of water (hydrophobia) due to difficulty swallowing
• hallucinations
• Insomnia
• partial paralysis

Rabies Treatments:  The wound should be cleaned with soap and water before taking any other measures. Seek professional medical help right away to take the necessary tests. The doctor should clean the wound well again and remove any foreign objects. Most of the time, stitches are not given to wounds caused by the bite.

If there is a risk of rabies , you will be given a series of preventive vaccines. These vaccines are usually given in five doses over 28 days. Most patients also receive a treatment called human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG). It is administered on the day of the bite. Immunization and treatment for rabies is recommended for at least 14 days after exposure or bite. There is no known effective treatment for people with symptoms of rabies infection .

If you have been bitten by an animal that is known to have rabies , you will receive a series of shots to prevent the rabies virus from infecting you. If the animal that bit you cannot be found, it may be safer to assume 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. Rage shots include:

• A fast-acting shot ( Anger Immunoglobulin ) to prevent the virus from infecting you. Part of this injection is given near the area where the animal bites you, 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 . Rabies vaccines are given as injections in the arm. You get four injections over 14 days.

Determining if the Animal that Bites it has rabies:  In some cases, it is possible to determine if the animal that died has rabies before starting the series of rabies shots . That way, if the animal is determined to be healthy, you won’t need the shots. Procedures for determining whether an animal has rabies vary by situation. For example:

• Pets and farm animals: Cats, dogs and ferrets that bite can be observed for 10 days to see if they show signs and symptoms of rabies . If the animal that bit you remains healthy during the observation period, then it does not have rabies and you will not need rabies shots . Other pets and farm animals are considered on a case-by-case basis. Talk to your doctor and local public health officials to determine if you should get rabies shots .
• Wild animals that can be captured: Wild animals that can be found and captured, such as a bat that has entered your home, can be killed and tested for rabies . Tests on the animal’s brain can reveal the rabies virus . If the animal doesn’t have rabies , you won’t need the shots.
• Animals that cannot be found: If the animal that bit you cannot be found, discuss the situation with your doctor and your local health department. In certain cases, it may be safer to assume the animal had rabies and proceed with rabies shots . In other cases, it may be unlikely that the animal that dies you have rabies and it may be determined that rabies shots are not necessary.

Prevention :  To reduce the risk of coming into contact with rabid animals:

• Vaccinate your pets: Cats, dogs and ferrets can be vaccinated against rabies . Ask your veterinarian how often your pets should be vaccinated.
• Keep your animals confined: Keep your animals inside and supervise them when they are outside. This will help keep your pets in contact with wild animals.
• Protect small animals from predators: Keep rabbits and other small pets such as guinea pigs inside or in secure cages so they are safe from wild animals. These small pets cannot be vaccinated against rabies .
• Report stray animals to local authorities: Call your local animal control officers or other local law enforcement authorities to report stray dogs and cats.
• Do not approach wild animals: Angry wild animals may seem unafraid to people. It’s not normal for a wild animal to be friendly to people, so stay away from any animal that seems fearless.
• Keep bats out of your home: Seal any cracks and gaps where 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.
• Consider rabies vaccine if traveling: If you are traveling to a country where rabies is common and you will be there for an extended period of time, ask your doctor if you should get the rabies vaccine . This includes traveling to remote areas where medical care is hard to come by.