RABIES
Rabies is a viral illness spread via the saliva of an infected animal. This occurs usually through biting a human or another animal. Transmission can also occur through saliva touching an open wound or touching mucous membranes.
CAUSES
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 gets into an open wound or the mucous membranes, such as the mouth or eyes. This could occur if an infected animal were to lick an open cut on your skin.
Animals that can transmit the rabies virus
Any mammal (an animal that suckles its young) can transmit the rabies virus. The animals most likely to transmit the rabies virus to people include:
Pets and farm animals
- Cats
- Cows
- Dogs
- Ferrets
- Goats
- Horses
Wild animals
- Bats
- Beavers
- Coyotes
- Foxes
- Monkeys
- Raccoons
- Skunks
- Woodchucks
In rare cases, the virus has been transmitted to tissue and organ transplant recipients from an infected organ.
SYMPTOMS
Rabies progresses in five distinct stages:
- incubation
- prodrome
- acute neurologic period
- coma
- death
Incubation period
This is the time before symptoms appear. It usually lasts from 3 to 12 weeks, but it can take as little as 5 days or more than 2 years.
The closer the bite is to the brain, the sooner the effects are likely to appear.
By the time symptoms appear, rabies is usually fatal. Anyone who may have been exposed to the virus should seek medical help at once, without waiting for symptoms.
Prodrome
Early, flu-like symptoms, include:
- a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or above
- headache
- anxiety
- feeling generally unwell
- sore throat and a cough
- nausea and vomiting
- discomfort may occur at the site of the bite
These can last from 2 to 10 days, and they worsen over time.
Acute neurologic period
Neurologic symptoms develop, including:
- confusion and aggression
- partial paralysis, involuntary muscle twitching, and rigid neck muscles
- convulsions
- hyperventilation and difficulty breathing
- hypersalivation or producing a lot of saliva, and possibly frothing at the mouth
- fear of water, or hydrophobia, due to difficulty swallowing
- hallucinations, nightmares, and insomnia
- priapism, or permanent erection, in males
- photophobia, or a fear of light
Toward the end of this phase, breathing becomes rapid and inconsistent.
Coma and death
If the person enters a coma, death will occur within a matter of hours, unless they are attached to a ventilator.
Rarely, a person may recover at this late stage.
Why does rabies cause a fear of water?
Rabies used to be known as hydrophobia because it appears to cause a fear of water.
Intense spasms in the throat are triggered when trying to swallow. Even the thought of swallowing water can cause spasms. This is where the fear comes from.
The excess saliva that occurs is probably due to the impact of the virus on the nervous system.
DIAGNOSIS
In humans, rabies is diagnosed by testing saliva, blood samples, spinal fluid, and skin samples. Multiple tests may be necessary. The tests rely on detection of proteins on the surface of the rabies virus, detection of the genetic material of the virus, or demonstration of an antibody (immune) response to the virus.
TREATMENT
If a person is bitten or scratched by an animal that may have rabies, or if the animal licks an open wound, the individual should immediately wash any bites and scratches for 15 minutes with soapy water, povidone iodine, or detergent. This might minimize the number of viral particles.
Then they must seek medical help at once.
After exposure and before symptoms begin, a series of shots can prevent the virus from thriving. This is usually effective.
Strategies include:
A fast-acting dose of rabies immune globulin: Delivered as soon as possible, close to the bite wound, this can prevent the virus from infecting the individual.
A series of rabies vaccines: These will be injected into the arm over the next 2 to 4 weeks. These will train the body to fight the virus whenever it finds it.
It is not usually possible to find out whether the animal has rabies or not. It is safest to assume the worst and begin the course of shots.