Rabies | Symptoms, Treatment, Vaccines
What is Rabies?
Rabies is an acute viral infection which is spread by the bite of an infected animal. In developing countries, rabies is usually contracted by the bite of an infected dog and can lead to an infection of the brain and nervous system, which is almost invariably fatal.
What Are The Symptoms?
Although you may have been bitten by an animal with rabies, it is not certain that you will be infected. However, if you are, it will normally take between 2 and 8 weeks before you experience any symptoms, depending on the severity and position of the wound - although in some instances it can take up to two years. Early symptoms may include:
- Headache
- Pain and itching at site of bite
- General feeling of being unwell
- Fever
As the disease begins to infect the central nervous system, you may experience:
- Throat spasms
- Difficulty swallowing
- Irrational fear of water (hydrophobia)
- Hallucinations
- Hyperactivity
- Paralysis
- Coma
Rabies is almost always fatal - with death resulting from paralysis of the muscles that are used for normal breathing. Once the symptoms of rabies have appeared, there is no treatment.
How Is It Contracted?
The most common mode of transmission to humans is through bites and scratches from an infected animal - primarily dogs, cats, bats, monkeys, skunks, racoons or foxes. Human to human spread of rabies has not been recorded.
Who Is At Most Risk?
Certain groups of people will be at greater risk than others. These include:
- Overseas travellers visiting the high-risk areas detailed below - especially children who are less aware of the potential risk posed by domestic and wild animals
- People who handle imported animals as part of their jobs
Where Are You At Risk?
Rabies in animals occurs in all continents except Australasia and Antarctica, so travellers can be exposed to rabid animals in any other destination - although most travellers in tourist resorts are at very low risk.
Area which are considered high risk are:
- Asia
- Eastern and Southern Africa
- Central and South America
- The Far East
Vaccination
The vaccination should be administered in two distinct situations:
- to protect those who are likely to be exposed to rabies e.g. animal handlers, travellers to and workers in high risk areas
- to prevent the establishment of rabies infection following the bite of an infected (or suspected) animal
If you have been exposed to rabies via the bite of an animal, you may also be treated with antibodies to rabies that have been collected from the blood of vaccinated human donors. This gives you protection against rabies until the vaccination becomes effective.
When Should You Be Vaccinated?
Check with your doctor or practice nurse as soon as you have decided where and when you are travelling, and they will advise on an appropriate vaccination schedule.
Does The Vaccine Have Any Side Effects?
Modern rabies vaccines are well tolerated. You may experience tenderness and redness at the site of injection. Occasionally, you may feel generalised aches and headaches.
Source Of information
GlaxoSmithKline, Wikipedia, local doctors, local hospitals, newspaper articles, various.