What is rabies?

Rabies is a disease caused by the virus which enters in to the body by biting of an infected animal which if not treated on time cause respiratory failure and death in all cases. Rabies is a disease mostly caused by biting of dogs if not vaccinated but it may be due to bite of animals like horse, cat, fox, money etc. Most of the countries have animal vaccination programs that reduces the source of rabies in domestic animals especially dogs and cats.

Rabies facts:

Rabies is caused virus that affects nervous system and if not treated at the earliest results in death of a person.

Rabies is caused by virus Lyssavirus rabies which when enters by the bite of an infected animal. Virus enters in to the nerves and passes on the brain and other organs and ultimately results in the death of the person.

People who get infected by rabies ideally should be treated within 12 hours or maximum within 48 hours for better results.

People infected by rabies are usually treated with rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine initially and then get an additional vaccine injection on 3,7,14 days.

What are the symptoms of rabies in human being?

The first symptom of the disease is the itching like needles pricking the skin near the bite area. The person may have fever and head ache which may last for 2 days to weeks.

Other symptoms may be like:

• Anxiety, tension and stress
• Loss of muscle function
• Insomnia
• Difficulty in swallowing anything due to throat spasms
• Pain at the area of bite
• Convulsions, drooling

Can rabies be prevented?

The best way to prevent rabies is vaccination of pets and wild animals to reduce it. Many of the countries do it on large scale to organize camps for people to get vaccinated their pets. But certainly people should have that much awareness that they should rush to a doctor once they are bitten by any animal as rabies if cured at the initial age may get cured and may be fatal disease which may cost life if not treated well in time.