Rabies: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Rabies is a dangerous viral infection that can be transmitted from the saliva of an infected animal. The rabies virus is generally transmitted through bites. In some cases, rabies can be transmitted when infected saliva is exposed to open wounds or mucous membranes—such as the eyes or mouth. In Southeast Asia, one of the animals that most often spreads rabies to humans is the wild dog.
Although almost 99% of rabies is caused by dogs, it’s not just dogs that can spread this virus. Other animals that also often suffer from the rabies virus are wild animals such as raccoons, wolves, skunks, civets, bats, foxes, and cats.
This disease is rare, but can cause serious infections. The virus will attack the nervous system and brain. Acute symptoms of rabies are just like the flu and last for 2–10 days. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies will become a fatal disease.
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccinating dogs is the most cost-effective strategy. Vaccination in humans is usually done on people who have jobs with a high risk of rabies. For example, laboratory workers who handle the rabies virus or caretakers of mad animals, people who are going on vacation to the mountains.
Prevention of this disease is important to do. The rabies vaccine should be given immediately when a dog or other animal bite occurs. So far, only 10 cases have recovered from rabies patients and only two cases have no history of vaccines.
Symptoms of Rabies
The incubation period (no signs of infection) of the rabies virus usually lasts from 1–3 months. However, it can also vary from 1 week to 1 year. The first and initial symptoms of rabies are flu-like, with fever, headache, and general weakness or malaise. These symptoms can last up to several days.
Other symptoms that will appear a few days later include:
- Discomfort, itching or stabbing at the bite wound
- Worry
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Loss of consciousness
- Abnormal behavior
- Hallucinations (hearing or seeing something that isn’t real)
- Producing a lot of saliva or foaming at the mouth
- Spasm or muscle stiffness
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Unable to move (paralysis)
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- Brain dysfunction
Treatment
Rabies is a fatal disease that should not be delayed treatment. Wash the bite wound immediately to reduce the chance of infection. Wash the wound with soap and running water for a few minutes. After that, consult a doctor for wound care and a rabies vaccine within a few hours of being bitten by the wild animal.
Rabies vaccine is not only done in one injection. Additional doses need to be given again on days 3, 7, and 14. In addition, the tetanus vaccine may also be needed if you have not been vaccinated in 10 years. The vaccine will be injected into the hand.
If the symptoms of rabies have appeared, most of the rabies disease will be fatal. Subsequent treatment is only to help sufferers feel comfortable.
Rabies prevention
To prevent the spread of rabies to animals and humans, it is better for the community (which of course is fully supported by the government) to take preventive actions, such as:
- Provide anti-rabies vaccine to pets (personal) and other wild domestic animals (organizations and governments). In Canada, the United States, and Switzerland, oral vaccines are distributed so that wild animals in their countries do not contract rabies.
- Prohibit the import of animals from countries that have a lot of rabies.
- If your pet is a small animal that doesn’t allow vaccines, give them a safe cage. Immediately report to the animal control officer if you see an animal suspected of having rabies.
- Do not carelessly approach wild animals.
- Protect your home from bat nests.
So, if you, your child, or a relative are bitten by an aggressive animal that salivates, take it to the doctor immediately before it’s too late. After all, rabies is a serious disease that can cause death.
Don’t take rabies for granted. Because thousands of individuals around the world die from this disease every day. With that in mind, make World Rabies Day an opportunity for you to help control and prevent the spread of this deadly disease.
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