What are the symptoms of rabies?

Rabies symptoms typically appear in stages, but they can vary. The initial symptoms are often similar to those of the flu and may include fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms may develop, such as:

1. Hydrophobia: Fear of water and difficulty swallowing due to throat muscle spasms.
2. Aerophobia: Fear of drafts or of fresh air.
3. Excessive salivation: Also known as hypersalivation or sialorrhea.
4. Muscle spasms: Especially in the throat and diaphragm, which can lead to difficulty breathing and swallowing.
5. Confusion and agitation: Changes in behavior and mental status.
6. Paralysis: Eventually leading to coma and death if not treated.

It’s important to seek medical attention immediately if you’ve been bitten by an animal that may have rabies or if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms after a suspected exposure. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it can be prevented through vaccination after a potential exposure.

What are the causes of rabies?

Rabies is caused by the rabies virus, which is typically transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. The virus can spread to humans through:

1. Animal bites: The most common route of transmission is through the bite of an infected animal. Animals that can transmit rabies include dogs, bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, among others.
2. Scratches: In rare cases, the virus may be transmitted through scratches or abrasions from an infected animal, if the saliva comes into contact with the wound.
3. Mucous membranes: The virus can also enter the body through mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth, if these areas come into contact with infected saliva.

Once the virus enters the body, it travels along the nerves to the brain, where it causes inflammation and damage, leading to the symptoms of rabies. The virus cannot penetrate intact skin, so simple contact with an infected animal’s fur or blood is not considered a risk for rabies transmission.

What is the treatment for rabies?

There is no cure for rabies once symptoms appear, and it is almost always fatal. However, rabies is preventable through vaccination before or shortly after exposure.

If you’ve been bitten by an animal that may have rabies or if you’re at risk of exposure, you should seek medical attention immediately. Treatment after exposure typically involves:

1. Wound care: Thoroughly washing the wound with soap and water to reduce the risk of infection.
2. Rabies vaccination: Administering a series of rabies vaccinations to prevent the virus from infecting the body. This includes an initial dose of rabies immune globulin (RIG) and a series of rabies vaccines given over several weeks.
3. Observation: If you’ve been bitten but are not yet showing symptoms, you may be monitored closely for any signs of rabies. If symptoms develop, treatment is not effective, and the disease is almost always fatal.

Preventive vaccination is also available for people at high risk of exposure to rabies, such as veterinarians, laboratory workers, and travelers to areas where rabies is common. This vaccine is given before potential exposure to the virus and is highly effective in preventing rabies.