Rabies is a deadly viral infection that is mainly spread by infected animals.

Causes

Rabies is spread by infected saliva that enters the body through a bite or broken skin. The virus travels from the wound to the brain, where it causes swelling, or inflammation. This inflammation leads to symptoms of the disease. Most rabies deaths occur in children.

In the past, human rabies cases in the United States usually resulted from a dog bite. Recently, more cases of human rabies have been linked to bats and raccoons. Although dog bites are a common cause of rabies in developing countries, there have been no reports of rabies caused by dog bites in the United States for a number of years due to widespread animal vaccination.

Other wild animals that can spread the rabies virus include:

• Foxes
• Skunks

Very rarely, rabies has been transmitted without an actual bite. This type of infection is believed to be caused by infected saliva that has gotten into the air, usually in bat caves.

The United Kingdom once completely eradicated rabies, but recently, rabies-infected bats have been found in Scotland.

Symptoms

The time between infection and when you get sick ranges from 10 days - 7 years. This time period is called the incubation period. The average incubation period is 3 - 12 weeks.

Symptoms may include:

• Drooling
• Convulsions
• Exaggerated sensation at the bite site
• Excitability
• Loss of feeling in an area of the body
• Loss of muscle function
• Low-grade fever (102 degrees F or lower)
• Muscle spasms
• Numbness and tingling
• Pain at the site of the bite
• Restlessness
• Swallowing difficulty (drinking causes spasms of the voicebox)

Exams and Tests

If an animal bites you, try to gather as much information about the animal as possible. Call your local animal control authorities to safely capture the animal. If rabies is suspected, the animal will be watched for signs of rabies.

A special test called immunofluorescence is used to look at the brain tissue after an animal is dead. This test can reveal whether the animal had rabies.

The doctor or nurse will examine you and look at the bite. The wound will be cleaned and treated as appropriate.

The same test used on animals can be done to check for rabies in humans. The test uses a piece of skin from the neck. Doctors may also look for the rabies virus in your saliva or spinal fluid, although these tests are not as sensitive and may need to be repeated.

A spinal tap may be done to look for signs of the infection in your spinal fluid.

Treatment

Clean the wound well with soap and water, and seek professional medical help. You will need a doctor to thoroughly clean the wound and remove any foreign objects. Most of the time, stitches should not be used for animal bite wounds.

If there is any risk of rabies, you will be given a series of a preventive vaccine. The vaccine is generally given in 5 doses over 28 days.

Most patients also receive a treatment called human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG). This treatment is given the day the bite occurred.

Call your doctor right away after an animal bite or after being exposed to animals such as bats, foxes, and skunks. They may carry rabies.

• Call even when no bite took place.
• Immunization and treatment for possible rabies are recommended for at least up to 14 days after exposure or a bite.

There is no known effective treatment for people with symptoms of a rabies infection, but there have been a few reports of people surviving with experimental treatments.

Outlook (Prognosis)

It is possible to prevent rabies if you get the vaccine soon after the bite. To date, no one in the United States has developed rabies when they were given the vaccine promptly and appropriately.

Once the symptoms appear, the person rarely survives the disease, even with treatment. Death from respiratory failure usually occurs within 7 days after symptoms start.

Possible Complications

Untreated, rabies can lead to coma and death.

In rare cases, some people may have an allergic reaction to the rabies vaccine.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if an animal bites you.

Prevention

To help prevent rabies:

• Avoid contact with animals you don't know.
• Get vaccinated if you work in a high-risk occupation or travel to countries with a high rate of rabies.
• Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Ask your veterinarian.
• Follow quarantine regulations on importing dogs and other mammals in disease-free countries.

Source: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001334.htm