Rabies - Symptoms, Treatment and Pet Care
By Dr. Deborah Rodrigues DMello

One common question that people ask me is about Rabies. I thought I should share a little bit of the disease itself to help readers to know about the disease closely. Your questions, suggestions and comments are most welcome.

Rabies .. What It Is?

Rabies is not a curable disease. It is a viral disease caused by Rhabdo virus. Virus affects the nervous system of mammals. In the later stages the virus moves from the brain to the salivary glands and saliva. The virus can be transmitted through bite or direct contact with mucous membrane of the nose eyes mouth. It is fatal once symptoms occur. It is predominately seen in carnivorous wild animals but also seen in warm blooded animals including human being

Rhabdo virus is DNA virus. And is very sensitive to heat, light detergents ( including ordinary soaps), disinfectants and cannot survive for a long time outside the body.

Pathogenesis

The virus is carried in the saliva of infected animals. It cannot be transmitted by simple contact or through air .The virus cannot penetrate through intact skin or transfer by licking. Virus can be transmitted only by bite of infected animals.

· Virus multiplies in the muscle at the site

· Spread by the nerve fibres and not by blood

· Into spinal cord and brain

· Growth in brain causes nervous diseases and death

· Also enter salivary gland and is produced and excreted through the saliva

When the saliva comes in contact with a scratch abrasion open wound on skin it is a sources of transmission. Bites are high exposure specially bites to the neck and head. And carry highest risk.

There are false concepts that it can be transmitted by being in the vicinity, petting or handling such animals, contact with blood, urine and feaces of infected animal.

Carriers

Virus can infect any mammals like

· Cats

· Dogs

· Cows

· Horses

· Bats

· Foxes

· Racoons

 

Symptoms In animals

· Furious form

Excitability Viscous attacks

Biting Agitation

Restlessness Aggressiveness

Lack of fear Excessive salivation

Aversion to water (hydrophobia) Unable to sallow or drink

Dilated pupils Muscular dysfunction,

Coordination or gait irregularities Paralysis

Convulsion and eventually death within 10days

 

· Dumb form

No symptoms are exhibited or may display symptoms of general illness like

Avoidance of contact with human or other animals

Lethargy loss of appetite

Death

Some dogs howl for days, retreat to dark corners, and their hind legs give way. Symptoms of rabies vary greatly, sometimes animal’s shows classical symptoms of the diseases or sometimes no sigh at all and are suddenly found dead.

 

Differential Diagnosis

Unfortunately these symptoms are not characteristic of rabies only

Aggressiveness may be caused due to extreme pain, fear, confusion.

Salivation may be caused due to inability to swallow may be due to obstruction in throat, foreign bodies in teeth, or due to ingestion of irritating substance

Howling may be due to pain or hunger.

 

Symptoms in Human

Irritability Headaches

Fever Itching

Pain at the site of exposure Progresses in to paralysis

Spasms of the throat muscle Convulsion

Delirium And death

Once symptoms appear rabies cannot be successfully treated.

Incubation Period: time between the exposure and onset of the symptoms vary from 3-8 weeks

Person to person transmission is not possible but precaution should be aken to prevent exposure to saliva of diseased person

Treatment

Vaccination of pets is the best treatment

First Aid

· Cleaning of animal bite or scratch wound with liberal amount of water and soap

· Flushing mucous membrane with warm water

· If bleeding profusely apply pressure bandage or digital pressure

· Followed by Post Bite Vaccination Schedule 0,3,7,14,28, days in arm muscle after consulting you doctors

Rabies injection are not given in stomach muscle any more

1^st injection is an antibody to fight the virus and should be given in 24 hours of the bite

Rest injections are to ensure long lasting protection.

· Tetanus toxoid injection should be given within 24 hours

· Animal should be observed for at least 10days

· Testing can be done at National Institute Communicable diseases in Delhi, to check for antibody titre

Pets attacked by Rabid Animals

· If pet is not vaccinated and the attacking animal is rabid, Animal should be kept in isolation and vaccinated before being released

· If animal is regularly vaccinated Post Bite Vaccination Schedule should be followed

If you see a suspected rabies case

· Do not approach or provoke the animal

· Do not throw stones or sticks

· Disperse the gathering crowd to reduce stress to the animal and reduce risk

· Call appropriate authorities or local welfare organization

In case of house dog

· muzzle the dog

· Take him to a vet

Prevention:

· Vaccination of you pet dogs and street dogs in and around the colony

· Supervise your pets

· Fasten trash lids tightly as garbage attracts animals

· If you see any animal behaving strangely notify local authorities. Do not try to catch the animals yourself. Barking lot, looking odd, sniffing my dog, looking threatening should not be interpreted as strange behavior

· If any contact occur/ suspected get medical advise as soon as possible

· If your pet dog is vaccinated give it the booster vaccination

· If a person is bitten do not panic. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water Get medical help. Post Bite Vaccination Schedule should be followed doses required are decided as per the type of exposure , location of the wound rabies vaccination status of biting animal

The efficacy and risk of prophylactic treatment.

· people handling animals over long term like vets should be regularly vaccinated.

Points to remember while vaccinating your pet

· Age: not before 12-16 weeks of wage

· Deworm: At least 2-3 day before

· Health: Normal eating habits, temperature

· Medication : animal should not be on immuno suppressants like steroids

How to avoid dog bites?

· Do not approach dog showing typical warning signs like snarling, stiff stance, ear laid back, and fur standing up.

· Train dog not to bite by teaching simple commands

· Do not play aggressive games like tug or war or wrestling.

· Do not leave children unattended with dogs

· Tell children to avoid strange and growling dogs

· Teach children not to take food away from dogs or hit them with stick and stones

· If dogs are fighting don’t separated them with hand, Spray them with water, yell at them or make loud noises

· Dogs should be on leash when taken for a walk

· Neuter you dogs, neutered dogs are less likely to bite.

I hope you found this information useful. I will talk to you shortly.

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