Rabies is a dangerous virus that causes brain inflammation. It can spread from animals to humans through bites and scratches. Vaccines and other medications can help treat and prevent infections.
Without treatment, the rabies virus can be fatal. However, it is treatable if a person who has had exposure to rabies seeks immediate medical attention.
This article discusses rabies. It explains the transmission, symptoms, and treatment for the infection.
![Rabid dog with rabies.](http://i0.wp.com/post.medicalnewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/11/rabid-dog-rabies-header-1024x575.jpg?w=1155&h=1528)
Rabies is a viral infection that
It is an RNA virus of the rhabdovirus family that can affect the body in one of two ways. It can enter the peripheral nervous system directly and migrate to the brain. It can also replicate within muscle tissue, where it is safe from the host’s immune system. From here, it enters the nervous system through the neuromuscular junctions.
Once inside the nervous system, the virus produces acute inflammation of the brain. Coma and death soon follow.
In the United States, around 60,000 people receive medical treatment for rabies exposure each year, according to the
The rabies virus can be slightly different from species to species. Since 2007, the U.S. has been free of rabies virus that is related to dogs. However, rabies can still be found in wildlife such as foxes, skunks, raccoons, and bats.
Rabies in humans in the U.S. is most commonly the result of bat bites. Around 7 out of 10 people who die from rabies get it from a bat.
However, the infection remains a problem worldwide and causes
There are two types of rabies. The first type, furious or encephalitic rabies,
Rabies is a serious health issue in over
As saliva carries the virus, rabies
In the U.S., raccoons, coyotes, bats, skunks, and foxes are the animals
Any mammal can harbor and transmit the virus, but smaller mammals, such as rodents, rarely
Rabies progresses in
- incubation
- prodrome
- acute neurologic period
- coma
- death
Incubation
Incubation is the time before symptoms appear. It usually lasts for
By the time symptoms appear, rabies is usually fatal. Anyone who has exposure to the virus should seek medical help immediately, without waiting for symptoms.
Prodrome
During prodrome, early, flu-like symptoms occur,
- a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above
- headache
- anxiety
- feeling generally unwell
- sore throat and a cough
- nausea and vomiting
- discomfort at the site of the bite
Acute neurologic period
During this stage, neurologic symptoms develop,
- confusion and aggression
- partial paralysis
- involuntary muscle twitching
- rigid neck muscles
- convulsions
- hyperventilation and difficulty breathing
- hypersalivation, or producing a lot of saliva
- frothing at the mouth
- fear of water, or hydrophobia
- hallucinations, nightmares, and insomnia
- priapism, or permanent erection
- photophobia, or a fear of light
Toward the end of this phase, breathing becomes rapid and inconsistent.
Coma and death
A person may enter a coma, and most people then die within
Why does rabies cause a fear of water?
People used to call rabies hydrophobia because it appears to cause a fear of water. The reason is that the infection causes intense spasms in the throat when a person tries to swallow. Even the thought of swallowing water can cause spasms, making it appear that the individual is afraid of water.
If doctors are not certain that an individual received a bite from an animal with rabies, they typically
Healthcare professionals may perform multiple tests without concluding the individual has rabies. Laboratory tests may show antibodies, but these may not appear until later in the development of the disease. Doctors could potentially isolate the virus from a person’s saliva or through a skin biopsy. However, by the time they confirm a diagnosis, it is often too late to act.
For this reason, the individual usually starts a course of prophylactic treatment immediately without waiting for a confirmed diagnosis.
If a person develops symptoms of viral encephalitis following an animal bite, doctors should treat them as if they may have rabies.
If a person has a bite or scratch from an animal that may have rabies, or if the animal licks an open wound, the individual should immediately wash any bites and scratches for
After exposure and before symptoms begin, a series of injections can treat potential rabies infections. Because healthcare professionals do not usually know whether the animal had rabies, it is safer to assume that they do and begin vaccination.
If a person has already begun to experience symptoms, the only option may be to make them comfortable and give them breathing assistance if needed.
Rabies vaccine
Healthcare professionals do not generally offer the rabies vaccine routinely. Instead, they reserve it for those at high risk of rabies exposure, such as laboratory staff working with the virus that causes the disease, veterinarians, and people likely to receive animal bites. These individuals may receive regular vaccinations.
Other people may receive the vaccine following exposure to the virus after an animal bite. This
Rabies vaccine contains an inactivated or a harmless version of the rabies virus, so it cannot cause the disease. It triggers the immune response to produce antibodies, which remain in the body and help protect against future rabies infections.
Doctors administer the rabies vaccine into the upper arm. Preexposure protection requires
For postexposure protection, previously unvaccinated people need four doses of the rabies vaccine, plus rabies immune globulin (RIG). Doctors administer RIG as soon as possible, close to the bite wound, to prevent the virus from causing infection in the individual.
Rabies is a serious disease, but individuals and governments can take steps
Strategies include:
- regular rabies vaccinations for pets and domestic animals
- bans or restrictions on the import of animals from certain countries
- widespread vaccinations of humans in some areas
- educational information and awareness
- enhanced access to medical care for people who receive bites
In rural Canada and the U.S., agencies have dropped bait containing an oral vaccine to
Individual precautions
Individuals should follow some safety rules to reduce the chance of contracting rabies.
- Vaccinate pets: Find out how often to vaccinate cats, dogs, ferrets, and other domestic or farm animals, and keep the vaccinations up to date.
- Protect small pets: Some pets cannot have vaccinations, so their owners must prevent contact with wild animals.
- Keep pets confined: Owners should confine pets safely while at home or supervise them.
- Report strays to local authorities: Contact local animal control officials or police departments regarding stray animals.
- Do not approach wild animals: Animals with rabies are likely to be less cautious than usual and may approach people.
- Keep bats out of the home: Seal houses to prevent bats from nesting and call an expert to remove any bats present.
In the U.S., vaccinations can control rabies in domestic dogs. Nevertheless, around
The prevalence of rabies varies widely in different countries. In nations without a feral dog population, the rates are significantly lower.
Rabies is present in
In recent years, the prevalence of rabies in South America and the Caribbean has fallen significantly due to rabies control programs. Official figures show that there were 250 cases in 1990, but by 2010, there were fewer than 10.
Anyone traveling to an area where rabies is prevalent or participating in activities where they are likely to come into contact with wild animals, such as caving or camping, should ask their doctor about vaccinations.
Rabies is a deadly virus that infected animals spread through their saliva. It causes flu-like symptoms initially, which progress into a fever, muscle spasms, coma, and, eventually, death.
Although there is no effective treatment once symptoms appear, rabies vaccines are usually successful in preventing infections. However, people must seek treatment immediately and not wait for any symptoms.
Individuals at high risk of rabies infections, such as veterinarians, should have preexposure vaccinations. Anyone who has a bite from a potentially infected animal should receive immediate medical attention and postexposure vaccinations. They may also require fast-acting RIG if they have not already had the vaccine for the virus.