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What to Do If You Are Bitten by a Rabid Animal?

Rabies is a serious illness that happens after being bitten by a stray animal that is infected. It can prove to be fatal if not treated quickly. Read on to know what exactly rabies is and what to do if you are bitten by a rabid animal.

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a viral disease which spreads by the saliva of infected animals and leads to brain inflammation. It is caused by the Rabies lyssavirus and it can potentially kill a person if not treated immediately.

How does it spread?

Rabies is spread through a deep bite or scratch from an infected animal. In India, it most commonly spreads through dog bites. Rabies can also spread through bites of other rabid animals such as cats or bats.

What Are the Symptoms?

Typically, there are no symptoms right away. Rabies can lay dormant in your body for 1 to 3 months. Doctors call this the “incubation period.” Symptoms will appear once the virus travels through your central nervous system and hits your brain.

The first sign is fever and you might generally feel tired or weak. You may also feel pain, tingling, or burning at the site of the wound.

An Animal Bit Me. What Should I Do?

• Wash the wound right away with soap and water. That’s the best way to lower your chances of infection.

• See a doctor as soon as possible. They’ll treat the wound and decide whether you need a rabies vaccination. If you’ve been exposed to rabies in the past few months, they’ll likely run a number of tests (saliva, blood, spinal fluid, skin, and hair) to check for the rabies virus or antibodies.

If your doctor suspects rabies, they’ll begin treatment with the rabies vaccine -- postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). The vaccine is always successful if it’s given immediately after exposure. You’ll get one dose of fast-acting rabies immune globulin, which will prevent you from getting infected by the virus. Then you’ll get four rabies vaccine shots over the next 14 days.

If you are pregnant, rabies shots are safe for you and your baby.

Can You Tell If an Animal Has Rabies?

It is difficult to tell whether an animal has rabies by simply looking at it. To accurately know, suitable lab tests need to be carried out. However, some animals show some signs of rabies such as being irritable, very aggressive and drooling too much. However, some animals that seem perfectly healthy and happy may also be infected. So do not ignore an animal bite, especially if it is from a stray animal.

Pet animals can also get rabies if they are bitten by a rabid animal. The best way to avoid getting it is by getting your pets vaccinated.

Conclusion

Rabies is spread by a virus that gets transmitted to humans from rabid animals. The illness is preventable and treatable provided the vaccinations happen on time.

Source

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-rabies

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kindly contact your Doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

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Published on September 26, 2022