Rabies is a viral infection that can be fatal when symptoms appear. This disease spreads quickly and is transmitted mainly by infected dogs through a bite. The incubation period is between 3 and 12 weeks; Although this virus can be sent to any mammal, dogs, cats, and bats are most common. It is necessary to take immediate measures before biting an animal infected with Rabies since the prognosis can be fatal. This infection can be prevented if said animal has been previously vaccinated. At FastlyHealwe explain the causes, symptoms and treatments of Rabies.
Table of Contents
Causes of Rabies
The rabies virus is transmitted by infected saliva, through a bite or a wound; this virus goes to the nervous system where it causes inflammation, and from here, the symptoms appear. Although the cause of Rabies is usually a dog bite, other animals can transmit the virus:
- Bat bite.
- Raccoon bite.
- Wild animal bites such as foxes or skunks.
It is important to note that Rabies can only be transmitted through bites and scratches; if it has come into contact with the animal’s saliva through a lick, there is no risk.
Symptoms of Rabies
Symptoms can take between 10 days and seven years to appear once the person has been infected. Once the crisis manifests, it lasts between 2 and 10 days, and the outcome is generally fatal. The infected person goes through four phases; in the first, the incubation phase, the disease is asymptomatic, and in the second phase, the symptoms are not very specific. In the third phase, the person already has Rabies signs and will finally enter a coma.
Some of the symptoms of Rabies are:
- Seizures
- Babe.
- Excessive tenderness in the area of the bite.
- Loss of muscle sensitivity.
- Hydrophobia, or water phobia.
- Muscle spasms.
- Tingling or numbness
- Minor sensitivity in some areas of the body.
- Difficulty in swallowing.
- Restlessness or hyperactivity.
Treatment for Rabies
To treat Rabies, you must act quickly to do. First, clean the wound with soap and water and call the emergency room immediately. Once there, the doctor will do a more thorough cleaning and remove any foreign object, and generally, in animal bites, it is not necessary to suture or sew the wound.
It should be noted that the time between the bite and the first cleaning of the wound is crucial to prevent the infection from progressing. If there is a risk of contracting Rabies, preventive vaccines will be given. On the other hand, immunoglobulin, the antibodies found in the blood, will also be administered.
Rabies prevention
Rabies is an infection that can be prevented, that is why we give you some measures in this regard:
- Get vaccinated against Rabies if you have to work with such animals.
- Do not come into contact with animals that you do not know or stray.
- Make sure your pet is vaccinated.
- Consult your doctor immediately after contact with carrier animals, even if there has been no bite.
- Be careful when buying animals from other countries.
Forecast
The timely application of the vaccine will be the key to a favorable prognosis. Otherwise, it can be fatal. When symptoms have already appeared, it is pretty unusual for a person to recover even after treatment has been administered. They generally die from respiratory complications seven days after symptoms have manifested.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.