Symptoms
Possible symptoms include:
- Flu-like symptoms: Fever, headache, weakness, feeling sick.
- Itching and a tingling sensation at the bite wound.
- Increased salivation
- Central nervous disturbances such as hallucinations, anxiety, agitation, confusion, sleep disturbances, hydrophobia (fear of water), delirium
- Paralysis
Rabies is a dangerous disease that is virtually always fatal after the onset of symptoms, if not treated. In many countries and many European countries, it has been eradicated due to the vaccination programs for the animals. Illegally imported animals and very rarely bats pose a possible threat. However, rabies occurs in many countries, especially in Asia, where tens of thousands perish annually from the disease.
Causes
Rabies is caused by rabies virus (RABV, rabies virus), an enveloped and single-stranded RNA virus with a “cartridge”-shaped structure that belongs to the lyssaviruses and the rhabdovirus family. It can be found in numerous mammals, including stray dogs, foxes, raccoons, coyotes, skunks, and bats. The viruses are usually transmitted to humans through saliva in the wound during a bite. After a long incubation period of up to two months – sometimes years – the virus travels from the peripheral nervous system to the spinal cord and brain, where it causes the life-threatening acute illness.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by medical treatment based on patient history, clinical symptoms, and laboratory methods.
Nonpharmacologic treatment
After the bite, the wound should be washed well with soap and water and then disinfected. The patient should seek medical treatment immediately!
Drug treatment
For drug treatment, rabies vaccine is administered after wound cleansing. This involves passive immunization with immunoglobulins as well as active immunization with inactivated viruses.
Prevention
- Be careful when handling animals, avoid bites (also applies to pets).
- For medicinal prophylaxis, rabies vaccination is available, see under rabies vaccination.
- Vaccinate animals against rabies.
