Rabies, Causes, SIgn and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Summary

Rabies is a viral disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, primarily by bites, but also through open wounds or mucous membranes. It affects mammals, including pets, farm animals, and wild species like bats and raccoons. Symptoms progress in stages, starting with flu-like signs, followed by neurological symptoms like aggression, paralysis, and hydrophobia. Without treatment, rabies can lead to coma and death. Immediate medical attention, including a series of vaccines, can prevent the virus from taking hold. Rabies is preventable if exposure is addressed quickly, making it crucial to seek prompt care after potential exposure.

Takeaways

• 😀 Rabies is a viral illness transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, usually via bites.
• 😀 Rabies can also spread if infected saliva comes into contact with open wounds or mucous membranes.
• 😀 Any mammal, including common pets (dogs, cats) and wild animals (bats, raccoons), can transmit rabies.
• 😀 The incubation period of rabies ranges from 3 weeks to over 2 years, with symptoms typically appearing sooner if the bite is near the brain.
• 😀 Early symptoms of rabies resemble the flu, including fever, headache, sore throat, nausea, and discomfort at the site of the bite.
• 😀 As rabies progresses, neurological symptoms develop, such as confusion, aggression, paralysis, and hydrophobia (fear of water).
• 😀 Hydrophobia occurs because the virus causes spasms in the throat, making swallowing painful and difficult.
• 😀 Rabies is diagnosed by testing saliva, blood, spinal fluid, and skin samples for the virus or its genetic material.
• 😀 Immediate medical treatment, including thorough cleaning of the bite and rabies vaccines, can prevent the virus from progressing.
• 😀 Rabies vaccines, along with rabies immune globulin, should be administered as soon as possible after exposure to prevent infection.
• 😀 Once symptoms of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal, so early intervention is critical.

Q & A

What is rabies and how is it transmitted?

Rabies is a viral illness transmitted primarily through the saliva of infected animals. It usually spreads via bites, but can also occur if infected saliva contacts an open wound or mucous membranes such as the eyes or mouth.

Which animals are most likely to transmit rabies to humans?

Animals that can transmit rabies include pets and farm animals like dogs, cats, cows, goats, and horses, as well as wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and beavers.

Can rabies be transmitted by means other than bites?

Yes, rabies can be transmitted if infected saliva enters an open wound or mucous membranes, such as the eyes or mouth, from licking or other contact with infected animals.

What are the five stages of rabies progression?

The five stages of rabies progression are: incubation period, prodrome, acute neurologic period, coma, and death.

How long does the incubation period of rabies last?

The incubation period typically lasts between 3 to 12 weeks, but it can range from as little as 5 days to over 2 years depending on the proximity of the bite to the brain.

What symptoms are associated with the prodrome stage of rabies?

The prodrome stage includes flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, nausea, and discomfort at the site of the bite, lasting 2 to 10 days.

Why do people with rabies develop a fear of water?

Rabies causes intense throat spasms when attempting to swallow, even the thought of swallowing water can trigger spasms, leading to the condition known as hydrophobia or fear of water.

What are the main symptoms during the acute neurologic period of rabies?

Symptoms during the acute neurologic period include confusion, aggression, partial paralysis, involuntary muscle twitching, difficulty breathing, excessive salivation (frothing at the mouth), and hydrophobia.

How is rabies diagnosed in humans?

Rabies is diagnosed by testing saliva, blood, spinal fluid, and skin samples to detect proteins, genetic material, or antibodies specific to the rabies virus.

What should a person do immediately after being bitten by an animal that may have rabies?

If bitten or scratched, the individual should immediately wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention as soon as possible to begin rabies treatment.

What is the treatment for rabies after exposure?

Rabies treatment after exposure includes a series of rabies vaccinations and rabies immune globulin shots, usually given soon after the bite to prevent the virus from infecting the person.