How To Treat Rabies At Home?

How To Treat Rabies At Home
The basic home remedies you can use for rabies treatment in humans are: 1. Foods Rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C is present in many fruits and vegetables. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin C as it boosts your immune system and helps you in fighting against infection. Guava, kiwi, cauliflower, and oranges are rich in vitamin C which can help in rabies

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Can rabies go away on its own?

Jeanna Geise was only 15 years old when she became the world’s first known survivor of Rabies without receiving any vaccination. Her miraculous survival has not only challenged a time-honored scientific fact, but has also brought about a new method of Rabies treatment, known as the Milwaukee Protocol. First, a little background info on Rabies is required to understand the full impact of Jeanna’s case. Rabies is an ever present virus; found on all continents except for Antarctica, rabies kills over 55,000 people each year. Fortunately, rabies is 100% preventable in humans thanks to the Rabies vaccine (first created by Louis Pasteur ).

The vaccine can be administered at two different times: given pre or post rabies exposure. People who are at a high risk of encountering rabies or rabid animals, such as veterinarians or laboratory workers, should receive the pre-exposure vaccine as a preventative measure. Post-exposure vaccination is recommended for all persons, even those previously vaccinated, who have come into contact with suspected rabid animals.

But, in order for the post-exposure vaccine to work, it must be administered before the onset of symptoms. If not, an infected person is expected to live only seven days after the appearance of symptoms. Rabies is transmitted through contact with the saliva of an infected animal.

  • On September 12, 2004, Jeanna was bitten on the left-index finger by a rabid bat she tried to rescue at her church.
  • Her mother proceeded to wash her wound (which is advised by WHO ) but did not know that her daughter needed to be vaccinated.
  • Thus, once Jeanna began exhibiting symptoms, her fate was sealed in the eyes of the medical world.

At first, rabies induces flu-like symptoms such as weakness, fever, headache, and overall discomfort. Jeanna became extremely fatigued on October 13 and by the next day was experiencing double vision. The infamous Rabies symptoms – excessive salivation, hydrophobia (the fear of water due to difficulty swallowing), hallucinations, agitation – typically appear ” just days before death.” Jeanna was rushed to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin on the 18th of October with slurred speech, fever, and vomiting,

A skin sample from her neck was analyzed by the CDC and tested positive for Rabies. Jeanna’s future was grim. Dr.Willoughby, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the hospital, had read up on Rabies medical literature upon Jeanna´s arrival. Luckily for Jeanna, his readings inspired a radical new idea to take hold in his mind.

He determined that Rabies neither kills by ” destroying neurons or causing inflammation in the brain,” but instead, causes excitotoxicity, which overstimulates the brain and causes the cells to die. Dr. Willoughby also concluded that the human immune system can fight off the virus if given enough time before Rabies reaches the person´s brain.

Jeanna’s survival was a matter of time; her brain had to be protected before Rabies infiltrated it. Dr. Willoughby assembled a team of experts to discuss his theorized treatment plan, which later became known as the Milwaukee Protocol. To save Jeanna´s brain and allow time for her immune system to work, the protocol called for her to be put into a coma.

The idea of inducing a coma left doctors wrestling with the possible side effects. Even if they did save her life would Jeanna be left severely disabled once she woke up? The difficult decision was left to her parents who agreed to proceed with the never-before tested protocol.

  • Doctors administered a variety of drugs to Jeanna: ketamine to ward off Rabies and protect her brain, midazolam to “complement” ketamine and lessen its tendency to cause hallucinations, and two antiviral medicines named ribavirin and amantadine.
  • Six days after first receiving the concoction of drugs, a spinal tap revealed that Jeanna’s body was producing rabies antibodies – a good sign of her body´s recovery! After Jeanna was taken out of her coma she was placed in rehabilitation to relearn how to talk, stand, walk etc.

Today, despite her doctors’ previous worries, Jeanna is ” pretty much normal,” according to Dr. Willoughby, and recently graduated from college. Lasting side effects from her battle with rabies includes trouble with running and balance, and speaking more slowly than before becoming infected. The Milwaukee Protocol, which was first tested on Jeanna, is now recognized worldwide as a means to possibly save unvaccinated rabies patients. But despite the amazing recovery Jeanna experienced, the method has stirred up some controversy in regards to its effectiveness.

  1. Out of 41 patients who have so far received the Protocol only 6 have survived.
  2. So why do some patients survive while others don’t ? Some scientists are skeptical whether the actual Protocol is the factor allowing patients to live.
  3. New research has shown that humans may be able to survive Rabies without vaccination or treatment after all.

A study done in Peru (were Vampire Bats, a known Rabies carrier, are common) lead by Amy Gilbert of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 7 out of the 63 people evaluated tested positive for rabies antibodies. Of those seven people only one had previously taken the Rabies vaccine.

This meant that the other six had produced antibodies on their own after being exposed to the virus and had survived. Other evidence also supports the theory that humans can survive Rabies. Not a single other documented virus has a 100% fatality rate in humans. Therefore, could Rabies really be the sole outlier we believe it to be? Even in animals who carry Rabies the virus isn´t completely fatal; 14% of dogs survive.

Bats can survive too. Scientists have also brought forth the idea that maybe the six human survivors had been infected with a weakened strain of Rabies, which allowed their immune system to prevail. This is possible since different animals carry varied strains of the virus.

  1. Until more research* is done on the Milwaukee Protocol and Rabies in general, it remains unclear why some people triumph over the world’s deadliest virus while others don´t.
  2. But in the meantime, if I’m ever infected with Rabies (which I’d prefer not to be) and for some reason don’t receive the vaccination on time, I will definitely request the Milwaukee Protocol.

A small chance of survival is better than no chance. *Dr. Willoughby has expressed wishes to test his protocol on animals but no research has been carried out yet References: CDC. Rabies (2013). Finley, D. “First unvaccinated rabies survivor shares story.” MySanAntonio,

June 21, 2012. Johnson, M. “Rabies survivor Jeanna Giese graduates from college.” JSOnline, May 8, 2011. Johnson, M. and Newson, K. “Soul Survivor: a Journey of Faith and Medicine.” JSOnline, June 18, 2005. Murphy, M. and Wasik, B. “Bats Incredible: The Mystery of Rabies Survivorship Deepens.” Wired, August 12, 2012.

Murphy, M. and Wasik, B. “Undead: The Rabies Virus Remains a Medical Mystery.” Wired, July 26, 2012. WHO. Rabies (2013). Images: Rick Wood (via JSonline). Sanofi Pasteur (via Flickr).

Can you survive rabies without treatment?

Treatment – Once a rabies infection is established, there’s no effective treatment. Though a small number of people have survived rabies, the disease usually causes death. For that reason, if you think you’ve been exposed to rabies, you must get a series of shots to prevent the infection from taking hold.

What is the best treatment for rabies in humans?

Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and rabies vaccine given on the day of the rabies exposure, and then a dose of vaccine given again on days 3, 7, and 14. For people who have never been vaccinated against rabies previously, postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) should always include administration of both HRIG and rabies vaccine.

  1. The combination of HRIG and vaccine is recommended for both bite and non-bite exposures, regardless of the interval between exposure and initiation of treatment.
  2. People who have been previously vaccinated or are receiving pre-exposure vaccination for rabies should receive only vaccine.
  3. Adverse reactions to rabies vaccine and immune globulin are not common.

Newer vaccines in use today cause fewer adverse reactions than previously available vaccines. Mild, local reactions to the rabies vaccine, such as pain, redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site, have been reported. Rarely, symptoms such as headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, and dizziness have been reported.

  • Local pain and low-grade fever may follow injection of rabies immune globulin.
  • The vaccine should be given at recommended intervals for best results.
  • Talk to your doctor or state or local public health officials if you will not be able to have your shots at the recommended interval.
  • Rabies prevention is a serious matter and changes should not be made in the schedule of doses.

Patient assistance programs that provide medications to uninsured or underinsured patients are available for rabies vaccine and immune globulin. People cannot transmit rabies to other people unless they themselves are sick with rabies. PEP will protect you from developing rabies, and therefore you cannot expose other people to rabies.

Does alcohol remove rabies?

The rabies virus is a very fragile virus. As soon as the saliva dries, the virus is no longer infectious. The virus is easily killed by soaps, detergents, bleach, alcohol and ultraviolet light.

How do I know that I have rabies?

What are the signs and symptoms of rabies? After a rabies exposure, the rabies virus has to travel to the brain before it can cause symptoms. This time between exposure and appearance of symptoms is the incubation period. It may last for weeks to months. The incubation period may vary based on

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the location of the exposure site (how far away it is from the brain), the type of rabies virus, and any existing immunity.

The first symptoms of rabies may be similar to the flu, including weakness or discomfort, fever, or headache. There also may be discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. These symptoms may last for days. Symptoms then progress to cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation.

  1. As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia.
  2. The acute period of disease typically ends after 2 to 10 days.
  3. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal, and treatment is typically supportive.

Less than 20 cases of human survival from clinical rabies have been documented. Only a few survivors had no history of pre- or postexposure prophylaxis. The can vary. Symptoms in animals are often similar to those in humans. These include early nonspecific symptoms, acute neurologic symptoms, and ultimately death.

When do rabies symptoms start?

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Rabies? – The first symptoms of rabies can appear from a few days to more than a year after the bite happens. At first, there’s a tingling, prickling, or itching feeling around the bite area. A person also might have flu-like symptoms such as a fever, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, nausea, and tiredness.

  • irritability or aggressiveness
  • excessive movements or agitation
  • confusion, bizarre or strange thoughts, or hallucinations
  • muscle spasms and unusual postures
  • seizures (convulsions)
  • weakness or paralysis (when a person cannot move some part of the body)
  • extreme sensitivity to bright lights, sounds, or touch

Someone with rabies can produce a lot of saliva (spit), and muscle spasms in their throat might make it hard to swallow. This causes the “foaming at the mouth” effect that has long been associated with rabies infection. It also leads to a fear of choking or what seems like a “fear of water,” another well-known rabies sign.

Is 10 days too late for rabies vaccine?

Rabies vaccine is not needed: If the animal (for example, dog or cat) lives in or has been hanging around the neighborhood, it can be observed for 10 days to see if it behaves normally. If, after 10 days, the animal does not show any signs of rabies, then no treatment is needed.

Can rabies occur after 10 years?

PANAJI: A 48-year-old man from Karnataka working in Goa was diagnosed with rabies 25 years after the dog bite he received, Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology has reported in its latest issue. The unusual case has been recorded at the Goa Medical College (GMC) and hospital, Bambolim.

  1. The patient was admitted to GMC in November 2009 and was reported to have been bitten by a dog at the age of 23.
  2. He had not received medical attention at that time.
  3. The publication states that in cases around the world incubation periods of 14 to 19 years have been reported between the dog bite and the manifestation of symptoms of rabies.

It could, however, not be established for definite that in this case there was no subsequent exposure to a dog, such as by way of licking etc. The man was admitted to GMC with a history of fear of water and air. He gave a definite history of dog bite on the leg 25 years ago and no other contact with known rabid canine subsequently.

  • He could not provide history of vaccination or medical attention at that time.
  • During the clinical examination, he was anxious and scared at the sight of water, flow of air under a fan, as noted by the medical residents and consultants, the study states.
  • Two days after admission in GMC, the patient’s phobia seemed to have reduced, as he suddenly went to the bathroom to wash his face and drank a glass of water as well.

He was reported to be conscious, alert and well-oriented to time and space. This cast doubts on the diagnosis even though the features of hydrophobia and photophobia suggested rabies encephalitis. “He was then referred to the general hospital for further management.

However, he went to a private hospital in the zone. Within a few hours, he succumbed. Following the allegation of medical negligence by the guardian because of sudden deterioration and death, the body was shifted to the forensics department at Goa Medical College to establish the cause of death,” the study states.

The forensic report established the definitive diagnosis of rabies encephalitis. The journal states that rabies accounts for over 20,000 deaths in India and that the disease can be easily mistaken in the early stages to be other conditions and often has to be established through a postmortem after death.

Explaining the prolonged incubation period in the case reported in Goa, the study states, “In rabies, the incubation period (the interval between exposure and the first symptom) is more variable than any other acute infection. During the incubation period, it is suggested that the virus is probably sequestered in the skeletal muscle at the site of bite, while the exposed person remains asymptomatic.” The study notes that the man came to Goa in search of a livelihood 25 years ago and lived in a semi-urban area of the state.

He was employed to deliver milk in nearby areas and residents of the colony reported that he suffered a dog bite at this stage. Residents said the victim was a lover of dogs and would caress dogs. At the same time that he suffered the dog bite, the carcasses of two dogs were lifted from the area, residents remembered.

  1. I was also part of the team that conducted the postmortem following the death.
  2. We had also sent some samples to Bangalore for testing and it was confirmed to be a case of rabies.
  3. The male patient was residing in and around Dona Paula and was seen to be suffering from hydrophobia.
  4. For an incubation period of close to 25 years, it’s a highly unusual case,” said Dr R G W Pinto, head of the department of pathology at GMC and one of the authors of the study.

The other authors are Dr S K Shankar, Dr Anita Mahadevan, Dr Silvano Dias Sapeco, Dr M S G Ghodkirekar and Dr S N Madhusdana.

Is 7 days too late for rabies vaccine?

Post-Exposure Rabies Vaccine Animal bites or scratches in Rabies infected countries are very serious. Whether it is a bite or a scratch, if the skin is broken you need urgent treatment, A lick over broken skin is also significant, as this is enough to allow the rabies virus to enter.

  • If the skin is not broken, you do not need to be vaccinated.
  • Sometimes it is hard to be sure if there is a break in the skin.
  • In that case, it is safer to be vaccinated.
  • Even if you have been bitten a few days, or weeks ago, It is never too late to start.
  • Rabies virus can incubate for several years before it causes symptoms.

If you wait until you get symptoms, it may be too late – there is no treatment for established rabies rabies is fatal, If you have been exposed to an animal bite, lick or scratch in a rabies infected country, you need to: 1. wash the wound gently with soap and running water for 5 minutes – do not scrub.2.

We will find you an appointment the same day. (If you are still overseas, you need to call your travel insurance hotline to find the nearest reliable medical provider )For persons in Brisbane, post bite rabies vaccine is supplied FREE by QLD health, but there is a bit of paperwork required.Dr Deb and her team have extensive experience caring for travellers bitten overseas.

Modern vaccines are extremely safe and given in the arm ( not the stomach as in times past). Since the vaccine takes 2 weeks to be effective, travellers who have not been preimmunised with rabies vaccine before their trip will need a special product called RIG injected in the wound – to slow the virus while the vaccine takes effect.

No one in their right mind would say after a snake bite in the Australian Bush – “Oh I will just see what happens”. Call us now 07 3221 9066 are the most common countries our travellers get bitten. A list of rabies-free countries can be found on the, For more information about rabies, you may like to review Dr Deb’s,

: Post-Exposure Rabies Vaccine

Can you cure rabies if treated early?

The rabies vaccine – Rabies can be treated with a vaccine if you seek treatment before symptoms of infection with the virus appear. Once symptoms appear, it’s too late for treatment. You will get five shots over 14 days and treatment is much less painful today than in the past.

When should I get tested for rabies?

If you’ve been in contact with any wildlife or unfamiliar animals, particularly if you’ve been bitten or scratched, you should talk with a healthcare or public health professional to determine your risk for rabies or other illnesses. Wash any wounds immediately with soap and water and then plan to see a healthcare provider.

  1. It’s important to know that, unlike most other animals that carry rabies, many types of bats have very small teeth which may leave marks that disappear quickly.
  2. If you are unsure, seek medical advice to be safe.) Remember that rabies is a medical urgency but not an emergency.
  3. Decisions should not be delayed.

See your doctor for attention for any trauma due to an animal attack before considering the need for rabies vaccination. After any wounds have been addressed, your doctor – possibly in consultation with your state or local health department – will help you decide if you need treatment known as rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP),

Decisions to start PEP will be based on your type of exposure, the animal you were exposed to, whether the animal is available for testing, and laboratory and surveillance information for the geographic area where the exposure occurred. In the United States, PEP consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and four doses of rabies vaccine over a 14-day period.

Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given by your health care provider as soon as possible after exposure. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in your arm like a flu or tetanus vaccine; rabies vaccines are not given in the stomach.

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How long can a human live with rabies?

Signs and symptoms – 0:46 Man with rabies displaying hydrophobia Animals with “dumb” rabies appear depressed, lethargic, and uncoordinated The period between infection and the first symptoms (incubation period) is typically 1–3 months in humans. This period may be as short as four days or longer than six years, depending on the location and severity of the wound and the amount of virus introduced.

  • Initial symptoms of rabies are often nonspecific such as fever and headache.
  • As rabies progresses and causes inflammation of the brain and meninges, symptoms can include slight or partial paralysis, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, paranoia, terror, and hallucinations,

The person may also have fear of water. The symptoms eventually progress to delirium, and coma, Death usually occurs 2 to 10 days after first symptoms. Survival is almost unknown once symptoms have presented, even with intensive care. Rabies has also occasionally been referred to as hydrophobia (“fear of water”) throughout its history.

It refers to a set of symptoms in the later stages of an infection in which the person has difficulty swallowing, shows panic when presented with liquids to drink, and cannot quench their thirst. Any mammal infected with the virus may demonstrate hydrophobia. Saliva production is greatly increased, and attempts to drink, or even the intention or suggestion of drinking, may cause excruciatingly painful spasms of the muscles in the throat and larynx,

Since the infected individual cannot swallow saliva and water, the virus has a much higher chance of being transmitted, because it multiplies and accumulates in the salivary glands and is transmitted through biting. Hydrophobia is commonly associated with furious rabies, which affects 80% of rabies-infected people.

What happens if a rabies patient drink water?

What is rabies? – Rabies is a viral infection caused by a a group of viruses called lyssaviruses, which can affect all warm-blooded animals – notably humans, dogs, and bats. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, causing severe neurological changes such as abnormal and aggressive behaviour, hallucinations, and fear of water (hydrophobia).

  • As the virus progresses it can also cause inflammation of the brain and the tissues that protect the spinal cord (meningoencephalitis), partial paralysis, and seizures.
  • Once the symptoms of rabies appear, the virus is almost always fatal.
  • The rabies virus kills over 55,000 people every year, primarily in Africa and Asia.

There are two types of rabies – furious rabies and paralytic rabies. Furious rabies is the most common type, accounting for around 80% of all cases, and is what is most often brought to mind when people think of rabies. Animals and humans that develop furious rabies may display erratic or aggressive behavior, start to produce a lot of saliva, and froth at the mouth.

Those displaying symptoms of furious rabies will also experience painful muscle spasms in the throat, especially when trying to drink water. This is known as hydrophobia, and it thought to happen because the rabies virus lives in the saliva – so reducing the amount of saliva in your mouth by drinking water would reduce the virus’ ability to spread.

As the virus progresses, they will start to experience seizures and fall in and out of consciousness. Paralytic rabies accounts for the remaining 20% of cases. People infected with this type of rabies slowly become paralysed, starting with a loss of sensation and muscle weakness around the area of the bite or scratch that infected them.

Does water wash away rabies?

How Can It Be Prevented? – Rabies in humans is a preventable disease if exposure is recognized and treatment is given in a timely manner. Immediately washing a bite or scratch with soap and water can greatly reduce the risk of rabies. The rabies virus can survive on inanimate objects for as long as it takes the saliva to completely dry.

What are the chances I have rabies?

CMAJ fact sheet: Rabies risk among travellers *Division of Internal Medicine, University of Ottawa, and †Division of Infectious Diseases, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ont. Find articles by *Division of Internal Medicine, University of Ottawa, and †Division of Infectious Diseases, Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ont.

  1. Find articles by Rabies is a preventable, deadly disease transmitted through contact with an infected warm-blooded animal.
  2. Most often people are bitten, but in some cases they may have a non-bite exposure to the saliva of a rabid animal, for example through licks on broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose or mouth, or scratches that break the skin.

Although extremely rare, rabies may occur after exposure to aerosolized rabies virus in a cave filled with infected bats. In developing countries, dogs remain the main source of rabies, with monkeys the second most common source. In most developed countries, skunks, raccoons, bats and foxes are the main source.

Although rabies is rare among international travellers, many rabies-related deaths in the developed world have involved people who were infected while travelling. There has been only 1 travel-related Canadian case of rabies in the last 70 years. Rabies occurs worldwide with few exceptions, including Antarctica, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, parts of Europe (e.g., Sweden and Norway), some Caribbean islands and Hawaii.

The highest incidence of rabies continues to be in Africa and Asia, particularly India. Most deaths from rabies occur in India and Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. Thailand has an estimated 10 million stray dogs, with 1 in 10 dogs in Bangkok estimated to be infected with rabies.

People travelling to rural areas or areas heavily populated with stray dogs in rabies-endemic countries are at highest risk. Children (boys more than girls) are 4 times as likely as adults to get rabies because they are more likely to be bitten and less likely to report it. People who participate in spelunking and other cave-related activities are at high risk, as are those who have unprotected outdoor, evening or nighttime exposures in rural areas, such as those biking, camping or doing volunteer work.

Dog bites are a common occurrence among tourists. In one study, 13 dog bites per 1000 people visiting Thailand were reported. Many dogs in foreign countries are not vaccinated against rabies. The risk of infection following an exposure to a rabid animal is about 15%, but it varies (from 0.1% to 60%) depending on the exposure factors of the bite.

  1. These factors include the number of bites, the depth of the bites and the stage of illness in the infected animal.
  2. Injury to the upper body or head poses the greatest risk of transmission.
  3. The main way to avoid rabies is to avoid contact with wild or stray animals.
  4. All stray dogs in foreign countries should be presumed to have rabies, even if the animal appears friendly.

All contact with bats should be avoided, and bats should never be handled. In addition, monkeys should not be handled, and food should not be carried when visiting areas where monkeys congregate. If bitten, scratched, or licked on mucous membranes or an open wound by any animal in a foreign country, immediately wash the wound thoroughly and vigorously with soap and water, and with a povidone–iodine compound if available.

Seek medical treatment immediately to receive postexposure vaccination (5 doses over 30 days for those who have not previously received pre-exposure vaccination) and human rabies immune globulin (a single dose within 7 days of the first vaccine dose if not previously vaccinated). The incubation period for rabies is usually 20–60 days, but it may be prolonged (more than a year); therefore, it is never too late to receive treatment before symptoms develop.

A special consideration is bat bites. Bats have small teeth and can inflict bites or scratches without leaving behind a noticeable wound. Therefore, if a bat is found in a room where a person has been sleeping, that person should be considered to have been exposed to rabies.

  • Rabies vaccine substantially reduces the risk of infection when given before or after potential exposure.
  • Those who receive the vaccine before travel will still require 2 additional doses after a potential rabies exposure.
  • However, they will not require human rabies immune globulin, a product often unavailable in developing countries.

This is the main reason for the recommendation for pre-travel vaccination. Because of the high cost of the rabies vaccine, pre-exposure vaccination is recommended only for people who are travelling to rabies-endemic areas (especially for prolonged stays), are likely to come into contact with wild or stray animals and will not have rapid access (within 3 days) to medical care.

  1. Pre-exposure vaccination is also recommended for people travelling to countries where postexposure prophylaxis is not available or is unsafe.
  2. The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that travellers obtain an individual risk assessment from a physician or travel medicine clinic before departure ().

Melanie Di Quinzio MD MSc Division of Internal Medicine University of Ottawa Anne McCarthy MD MSc Division of Infectious Diseases Ottawa Hospital Ottawa, Ont. Articles from CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association : CMAJ fact sheet: Rabies risk among travellers

What are the chances of me having rabies?

Cases of human rabies cases in the United States are rare, with only 1 to 3 cases reported annually. Twenty-five cases of human rabies have been reported in the United States in the past decade (2009-2018). Seven of these infections were acquired outside of the U.S.

and its territories. The number of human rabies deaths in the United States has been steadily declining since the 1970’s thanks to animal control and vaccination programs, successful outreach programs, public health capacity and laboratory diagnostics, and the availability of modern rabies biologics.

Yet each year, hundreds of thousands of animals need to be placed under observation or be tested for rabies, and between 30,000 to 60,000 people need to receive rabies postexposure prophylaxis.

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Cases of Rabies in Humans in the United States and Puerto Rico from January 2009 Through December 2019 by Circumstances of Exposure and Rabies Virus Variant

Date of onset Date of death Reporting state Age (y) Sex Exposure* Rabies virus variant†
16-Oct-18 4-Nov-18 UT 55 M Contact Bat, Tb
15-Jul-18 23-Aug-18 DE 69 F Unknown Raccoon, eastern United States
28-Dec-17 14-Jan-18 FL 6 M Bite Bat, Tb
6-Oct-17 21-Oct-17 FL 56 F Bite Bat, Tb
5-May-17 21-May-17 VA 65 F Bite Dog, India
25-Nov-15 1-Dec-15 PR 54 M Bite Dog-mongoose, Caribbean
17-Sep-15 3-Oct-15 WY 77 F Contact Bat, Ln
30-Jul-15 24-Aug-15 MA 65 M Bite, Philippines Dog, Philippines
12-Sep-14 26-Sep-14 MO 52 M Unknown Bat, Ps
16-May-13 11-Jun-13 TX 28 M Unknown, Guatemala Dog, Guatemala
31-Jan-13 27-Feb-13 MD 49 M Kidney transplant Raccoon, eastern United States
6-Jul-12 31-Jul-12 CA 34 M Bite Bat,Tb
22-Dec-11 23-Jan-12 MA 63 M Contact Bat, My sp
3-Dec-11 19-Dec-11 SC 46 F Unknown Bat,Tb
1-Sep-11 14-Oct-11 MA 40 M Contact, Brazil Dog, Brazil
21-Aug-11 1-Sep-11 NC 20 M Unknown (organ donor)§ Raccoon, eastern United States
14-Aug-11 31-Aug-11 NY 25 M Contact, Afghanistan Dog, Afghanistan
30-Jun-11 20-Jul-11 NJ 73 F Bite, Haiti Dog, Haiti
30-Apr-11 Survived CA 8 F Unknown Unknown
24-Dec-10 10-Jan-11 WI 70 M Unknown Bat, Ps
2-Aug-10 21-Aug-10 LA 19 M Bite, Mexico Bat, Dr
23-Oct-09 20-Nov-09 VA 42 M Contact, India Dog, India
20-Oct-09 11-Nov-09 MI 55 M Contact Bat, Ln
5-Oct-09 20-Oct-09 IN 43 M Unknown Bat, Ps
25-Feb-09 Survived TX 17 F Contact Bat, unknown

Data for exposure history including exposure type and country if outside of the United States are reported when plausible information was reported directly by the patient (if lucid or credible) or when a reliable account of an incident consistent with rabies virus exposure (e.g., dog bite) was reported by an independent witness (usually a family member).

Exposure histories are categorized as bite, contact without a known bite (e.g., waking up to find a bat on exposed skin), or unknown (i.e., no information about a bite or contact with an animal was elicited during case investigation). † Rabies virus variants associated with terrestrial animals in the United States and Puerto Rico are identified with the names of the reservoir animal (raccoon, skunk, fox, bat, mongoose), followed by the name of the most definitive geographic entity (usually the country) from which the variant has been identified.

Rabies virus variants associated with bats are identified with a notation for the names of the species of bats in which they have been found to be circulating. Dr = Desmodus rotundus, Ln = Lasionycteris noctivagans. My sp = Myotis species. Ps = Perimyotis subflavus,Tb = Tadarida brasiliensis † Infection was not identified until 2013, when an organ recipient developed rabies.

Is rabies easy to get?

How is rabies transmitted? Rabies virus is transmitted through direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from an infected animal. People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal.

It is also possible, but rare, for people to get rabies from non-bite exposures, which can include scratches, abrasions, or open wounds that are exposed to saliva or other potentially infectious material from a rabid animal. Other types of contact, such as petting a rabid animal or contact with the blood, urine or feces of a rabid animal, are not associated with risk for infection and are not considered to be exposures of concern for rabies.

Other modes of transmission—aside from bites and scratches—are uncommon. Inhalation of aerosolized rabies virus is one potential non-bite route of exposure, but except for laboratory workers, most people won’t encounter an aerosol of rabies virus. Rabies transmission through corneal and solid organ transplants have been recorded, but they are also very rare.

  • There have only been two known solid organ donor with rabies in the United States since 2008.
  • Many organ procurement organizations have added a screening question about rabies exposure to their procedures for evaluating the suitability of each donor.
  • Bite and non-bite exposures from an infected person could theoretically transmit rabies, but no such cases have been documented.

Casual contact, such as touching a person with rabies or contact with non-infectious fluid or tissue (urine, blood, feces), is not associated with risk for infection. Contact with someone who is receiving rabies vaccination does not constitute rabies exposure, does not pose a risk for infection, and does not require postexposure prophylaxis.

Can rabies symptoms appear in 1 day?

The Virus Reaches the Brain – Late in the disease, after the virus has reached the brain and multiplied there to cause an inflammation of the brain, it moves from the brain to the salivary glands and saliva. Also at this time, after the virus has multiplied in the brain, almost all animals begin to show the first signs of rabies,

Most of these signs are obvious to even an untrained observer, but within a short period of time, usually within 3 to 5 days, the virus has caused enough damage to the brain that the animal begins to show unmistakable signs of rabies. Extensive studies on dogs, cats, and ferrets show that the rabies virus can be excreted in the saliva of infected animals several days before illness is apparent.

Such extensive studies have not been done for wildlife species, but it is known that wildlife species do excrete rabies virus in their saliva before the onset of signs of illness. The excretion of virus may be intermittent, and the relative amount of excreted virus may vary greatly over time, before and after the onset of clinical signs.

What are the stages of rabies?

Clinical Manifestations – Five general stages of rabies are recognized in humans: incubation, prodrome, acute neurologic period, coma, and death (or, very rarely, recovery) ( Fig.61-1 ). No specific antirabies agents are useful once clinical signs or symptoms develop.

  1. The incubation period in rabies, usually 30 to 90 days but ranging from as few as 5 days to longer than 2 years after initial exposure, is more variable than in any other acute infection.
  2. Incubation periods may be somewhat shorter in children and in individuals bitten close to the central nervous system (e.g., the head).

Clinical symptoms are first noted during the prodromal period, which usually lasts from 2 to 10 days. These symptoms are often nonspecific (general malaise, fever, and fatigue) or suggest involvement of the respiratory system (sore throat, cough, and dyspnea), gastrointestinal system (anorexia, dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea), or central nervous systems (headache, vertigo, anxiety, apprehension, irritability, and nervousness). The acute neurologic period begins with objective signs of central nervous system dysfunction. The disease may be classified as furious rabies if hyperactivity (i.e., hydrophobia) predominates and as dumb rabies if paralysis dominates the clinical picture.

  1. Fever, paresthesia, nuchal rigidity, muscle fasciculations, focal and generalized convulsions, hyperventilation, and hypersalivation may occur in both forms of the disease.
  2. At the end of the acute neurologic phase, periods of rapid, irregular breathing may begin; paralysis and coma soon follow.
  3. Respiratory arrest may occur thereafter, unless the patient is receiving ventilatory assistance, which may prolong survival for days, weeks, or longer, with death due to other complications.

Although life support measures can prolong the clinical course of rabies, rarely will they affect the outcome of disease. The possibility of recovery, however, must be recognized, and when resources permit, every effort should be made to support the patient.

How do you know a dog has rabies?

What Are the Symptoms of Rabies? – If your dog is bitten by another animal and you’re worried about rabies, pay close attention to their behavior and call your vet immediately if you have reason to suspect rabies. Your dog may quickly become restless and irritable, even showing aggression,

Rabid animals may also be uncharacteristically affectionate. Similarly, if your dog is usually excited and happy, they may suddenly seem relaxed and disinterested. Physical signs of rabies in dogs to watch for include fever, difficulty swallowing, excessive drooling, staggering, seizures, and even paralysis.

As the virus progresses, your dog may act as though they are overstimulated, meaning lights, movement, and sound may appear to have a negative effect. They may seek out a dark, quiet place to hide or act aggressively. One of the most well known symptoms of rabies in dogs is foaming at the mouth.

Some dogs may not show “foaming” but simply excess saliva or drooling. This is a sign that the virus has progressed. In the final stages of rabies, seizures and increasing paralysis are common. Dogs in this stage can’t control their muscles — especially in their head and throat — which makes swallowing difficult.

Eventually breathing isn’t possible, which leads to death. The virus can be in your dog’s body for weeks before signs develop. Most cases in dogs develop within 21 to 80 days after exposure, but the incubation period can be much shorter or longer. Once rabies shows symptoms, it can’t be treated, so it’s important to call your vet as soon as your dog has been bitten, instead of waiting to see.