Rabies

Rabies: A Fatal Viral Disease

Symptoms: Rabies is a fatal viral disease that targets the central nervous system. Initial symptoms include extreme anxiety, headaches, fever, general malaise, and sensory problems. As the disease progresses, individuals may experience paralysis, muscle spasms hindering swallowing, fear of water, delirium, and seizures. Death occurs within 2 to 14 days, with close to 100 percent mortality in untreated patients, resulting from respiratory muscle paralysis.

Transmission: Rabies is transmitted through contact with the secretions of a rabid animal or person, typically via a bite or when infected secretions contact a wound or mucous membrane. Wild animals and dogs serve as reservoirs for the virus. The incubation period ranges from 2 to 8 weeks but can extend to several years. Unusual behavior, such as a loss of fear in wild animals or unprovoked attacks in domestic animals, may indicate rabies.

Prevention: To prevent rabies, it’s essential to avoid contact with wild animals or domestic animals with unknown vaccination status. Report any bites to a physician within 24 hours, regardless of the animal’s health.

Immunization: A rabies vaccine is available for individuals anticipating close contact with animals in areas where rabies is prevalent. The vaccination involves three doses over a three-week period, with a recommended booster shot every two years based on antibody titers. In case of a bite from a potentially rabid animal, immediate initiation of the vaccine and immunoglobulins is crucial, even if the person is already vaccinated. The vaccination schedule includes five doses (on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28). Washing the wound with soap and water significantly reduces the transmission risk, although the vaccine may cause fever and a general feeling of malaise.