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Learn How this information was developed. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. All rights reserved. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. British Columbia Specific Information Rabies is a very serious and usually fatal disease caused by one of a number of rabies viruses.
Top of the page. Topic Overview What is rabies? How do you get rabies? What are the symptoms? How is rabies treated? What should you do if you think you have been exposed to rabies? How can you avoid rabies? To avoid contact with the rabies virus: Have pet dogs, cats, and ferrets vaccinated against rabies. If you aren't the first owner of your pet, ask for a certificate of rabies vaccination. If no document exists, confirm with the pet's veterinarian that the pet got the vaccine.
Avoid contact with stray dogs, especially in rural areas of countries where rabies is a risk. Avoid contact with bats. Never touch or try to pet or catch a wild animal.
Teach children to avoid these animals. Secure garbage and other items that attract animals. Secure open areas of your home, such as pet doors, chimneys, unscreened windows, or any place that wild or stray animals could enter. How Is Rabies Diagnosed? How Is Rabies Treated? Doctors give two shots as soon possible: rabies immune globulin: This provides protection right away while the vaccine starts working. People with a weakened immune system get an extra dose on day How Is Exposure to Rabies Prevented?
To reduce the chances of rabies exposure: Vaccinate your pets. Report stray animals to your local health authorities or animal-control officer. Remind kids not to touch or feed stray cats or dogs wandering in the neighborhood or elsewhere.
Teach kids to stay away from wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. What Else Should I Know? If your child has been bitten by an animal, especially if it was an unknown dog or wild animal: Wash the bite area well with soap and water and cover the bite with a clean bandage.
Call your doctor right away and go to the nearest emergency department. Anyone with a possible rabies infection must be treated in a hospital. Call local animal-control authorities to help find the animal. It may need to be caught and watched for signs of rabies. The first symptoms of rabies may be very similar to those of the flu including general weakness or discomfort, fever, or headache.
These symptoms may last for days. There may be also discomfort or a prickling or itching sensation at the site of the bite, progressing within days to acute symptoms of cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation. As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia fear of water , and insomnia. The acute period of disease typically ends after 2 to 10 days.
There's also a vaccine for people at risk of being infected. Rabies vaccination You should consider getting vaccinated against rabies if you're travelling to an area of the world where rabies is common and: you plan to stay for a month or more, or there's unlikely to be quick access to appropriate medical care you plan to do activities that could put you at increased risk of exposure to animals with rabies, such as running or cycling Visit a GP or travel clinic if you think you may need the vaccine.
If you think this applies to you, speak to your employer or occupational health provider. Find out more about the rabies vaccination How to avoid being bitten or scratched All mammals including monkeys can carry rabies, but it's most common in: dogs bats raccoons foxes jackals cats mongooses Animals can spread the infection if they bite or scratch you or, or in rare cases, if they lick an open wound or their saliva gets into your mouth or eyes.
Rabies is not spread through unbroken skin or between people. While travelling in an area where rabies is a risk: avoid contact with animals — some infected animals may behave strangely, but sometimes there may be no obvious signs they're infected avoid touching any dead animals If you're travelling with a child, make sure they're aware of the dangers and that they should tell you if they have been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal.
Check them for any wounds if they come into contact with an animal. For information about areas where rabies is a risk, see: TravelHealthPro: rabies information fitfortravel: country information What to do if you have been bitten or scratched If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal in an area with a risk of rabies: immediately clean the wound with running water and soap for several minutes disinfect the wound with an alcohol- or iodine-based disinfectant and apply a simple dressing, if possible go to the nearest medical centre, hospital or GP surgery as soon as possible and explain that you have been bitten or scratched If this happens while you're abroad, get local medical help immediately.
It's unlikely you have been infected with rabies, but it's best to be safe. Treatment after a bite or scratch If you have been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal that might have rabies, you may need specialist medical treatment to stop you getting rabies.
Post-exposure treatment involves: cleaning and disinfecting the wound a course of the rabies vaccine — you'll need to have 4 doses over a month if you have not been vaccinated against rabies before, or 2 doses a few days apart if you have in some cases, a medicine called immunoglobulin is given into and around the wound — this provides immediate but short-term protection if there's a significant chance you have been infected The post-exposure treatment you need may be slightly different if you have a weakened immune system.
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