Rabies (Latin rabies) is still dangerous. You can get infected with it not only during exotic holidays in India, but also in our country, it can be dangerous to meet an unvaccinated dog, cat, fox that does not run away from us or a bat. You can get it not only by biting, but also by contact with infected saliva. What are the symptoms of rabies and are vaccinations effective? What is the treatment of rabies?

Rabies(Latinrabies ) is a dangerous animal disease caused by viruses of the typeLyssavirus, from the familyRhabdoviridae , which can, through the most common bite, spread to humans. Although we have a duty to vaccinate dogs against rabies, this does not solve the problem of thiszoonotic disease . It's a fact that dogs become infected and get sick sporadically. But it is different with vaccinations. Sometimes the owners forget about them, other times they disregard them, so you can never be sure that the dog that caught us by the calf in the park is he althy. However, cats pose a greater threat. Not only those that roam the garbage cans and cellars, but also home ones, because we only recommend vaccinating cats. In addition, rabies can be infected from other mammals. Bats and red foxes are especially dangerous here. The disease is also found among horses and cattle that have been bitten by infected foxes.

Rabies: disease development from the moment of infection

Animal saliva is dangerous for us, because it may contain the rabies virus. Not only is it dangerous to be bitten, but also to lick the wounded skin, mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and conjunctiva by a sick animal. Droplet infection is also possible. The virus attacks our nervous system. It travels through the nerve fibers to the sensory ganglia, then on to the spinal cord and the brain. There it multiplies very intensively.

How long does it take for the virus to reach the brain? It depends on the place where it entered the body and our immunity. It will reach its goal faster when the infection is in the head and neck. Some people experience the disease only after 6-8 weeks, others after 2-3 weeks. Infected nerve cells cease to perform their functions, and the spread of inflammation and degeneration wreaks irreversible havoc in the systemnervous.

Symptoms of rabies

It starts with a tingling and burning sensation in the place where the infection has occurred, which is exactly where the sick animal bit or licked us. An arm, leg, or other part of the body becomes numb and aches. Usually the wound has long since healed, so we don't associate it with a bite. In addition, there is malaise, insomnia or increased drowsiness and a low fever. The patient is agitated and has hydrophobia. Some people react nervously to the slightest gust of air (aerophobia).

The disease progresses quickly, he alth worsens almost every hour. Agitation may progress to convulsions. With time, paresis and paralysis appear. Eventually, the muscles of the respiratory system are paralyzed and suffocated. Usually only a week passes from the onset of symptoms to death.

Important
  • Every year around 60,000 people die from rabies in the world. Most of them are in tropical countries, where animals are not vaccinated against the disease and bites are neglected.
  • About 20,000 people die from rabies a year in India - take that into account when driving to India.
  • In European and North American countries, cases of infection are sporadic.
  • A few years ago in Masuria, there was a case of rabies in a woman who got infected from her own cat.

Rabies: painless vaccine

A drug for rabies has not yet been invented. But viruses can be inactivated by giving the appropriate vaccine.

The vaccine is effective as long as you take it before the first symptoms of the disease appear. Then it is too late to rescue.

Therefore, vaccinations should begin within 10 days of contact with the animal. Instead of giving painful injections into the abdomen, today they are vaccinated in the arm. The injection is painless and safe - it does not cause any neurological complications. It is repeated five or six times. Your doctor may order you to administer antibodies in the form of a specific immunoglobulin. These will provide protection against the disease, before the body makes antibodies to the vaccine. The injection is given once in the buttock on the day the vaccination starts or within 7 days of the first injection.

The vaccine must be given before signs of infection appear.

  • 1st dose - as soon as possible from dangerous contact with the animal.
  • 2nd dose - 3 days after the initial dose.
  • 3rd dose - 1 week from the first injection.
  • IV dose - 2 weeks after the first dose.
  • V dose - one month after the first dose.
  • VI dose - 3 months after the first onevaccinations (only if there is a serious risk of rabies).

Don't be afraid of the vaccine

Once bitten, they faced a series of painful injections into their stomach. Today it is grafted into the shoulder or under the shoulder blade. The injection is no more painful than the others. Then it sometimes hurts a bit at the injection site, the area may be red and swollen for several days. Vaccination is repeated 5 or 6 times. Sometimes antibodies are given - they provide protection against disease before the body produces its own.

Rabies prevention: pre-exposure vaccination

Protective vaccinations apply to people particularly vulnerable to the disease, e.g. foresters. Tourists going to high-risk countries (India and other tropical countries) should also get vaccinated, especially if they are planning an active vacation: cycling, camping, trekking.

Of course, this type of vaccination is also recommended for veterinarians and their assistants, but also for … postmen who may be exposed to infected animals while delivering mail.

It is worth remembering that children who love to stroke all the animals they meet are particularly vulnerable to rabies infection.

Pre-exposure vaccination of children and adults consists in the administration of three doses according to the schedule: 0, 7, 28 days (according to WHO: 0, 7, 21 or 28 days). A booster dose is given 12 months later, and to ensure continued protection, a booster dose should be given every 5 years. The three pre-exposure doses should be taken at least 3 weeks before the planned departure.

Rules to be followed after being bitten by an animal

When a foreign animal bites (licks) you, thoroughly wash the injured area with running water and soap (it kills the virus). Let's wait a few minutes for the wound to bleed out (then there is a chance that the viruses will not penetrate deeper). Put on a sterile dressing and go to the doctor immediately (e.g. emergency room). Based on the interview, the specialist will assess the risk of rabies infection, professionally dress the wound and, if necessary, refer it to the Rabies Prevention Clinic. Try to identify the owner of the dog (cat). The animal must be examined immediately and placed under veterinary quarantine (even if it has been vaccinated). It depends on your inspection whether you need to be vaccinated.

Has the animal been vaccinated against rabies?

It is important to establish whether the dog (cat) has been vaccinated against rabies. If the owner does not want to show the document, the municipal police or the police should be called for help. The animal must be examined immediately by a veterinarian - fromthe results of the inspection depend on the further procedure. When the animal is found to be sick with rabies, the patient is immediately injected. If the animal is he althy and up-to-date, it must be monitored for 15 days. An absolute indication for vaccinations is a bite in the head or neck, as well as bites by a stray dog ​​or cat. Wild animals - foxes, raccoon dogs, bats - are treated as sick and vaccination is recommended. The exception is when it is proven that they do not have rabies. Vaccinations must be started within 10 days of the bite (or other dangerous contact with the animal).

You must do it

How to avoid rabies infection?

  • Animals that behave contrary to their instincts are suspicious: an aggressive dog with a wild look and foam in its mouth, and a fox that seems friendly, compliant, tame, and approaches people. Avoid them in a wide arc.
  • Do not touch the bat that has fallen into the room in the middle of the day, because its very activity at this time (normally nocturnal) is suspect. The presence of a bat in an unusual place should be disturbing - instead of in the attic, it is in an apartment or in the yard and has difficulties with flying.
  • If you come across an animal that is behaving strangely, call your he alth care provider or local vet immediately. Don't try to grab it as it might be infected.
  • Do not pet or feed foreign animals (neither domestic nor wild) as the disease can be contagious before the animal shows symptoms.
  • If your pet comes home bitten (bloody), go to the vet immediately.

"Zdrowie" monthly

Category:

Infectious diseases