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Rabies

Rabies is an almost always fatal viral disease transmitted through animal bites. It mainly affects poor, rural communities and children. Vaccinating dogs is the most effective prevention strategy. Pre-exposure vaccination is also recommended for some high-risk groups. Symptoms vary but eventually cause fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Post-exposure prophylaxis treatment depends on the level of contact with a suspect animal.

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81 views3 pages

Rabies

Rabies is an almost always fatal viral disease transmitted through animal bites. It mainly affects poor, rural communities and children. Vaccinating dogs is the most effective prevention strategy. Pre-exposure vaccination is also recommended for some high-risk groups. Symptoms vary but eventually cause fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Post-exposure prophylaxis treatment depends on the level of contact with a suspect animal.

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itsmeaya
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Aya Bolinas

BSN-3A
RABIES
Rabies is an infectious viral disease that is almost always fatal following the onset of clinical
signs. In more than 99% of human cases, the rabies virus is transmitted by domestic dogs.
Rabies affects domestic and wild animals, and is spread to people through bites or scratches,
usually via saliva.

Rabies is a neglected disease of poor and vulnerable populations whose deaths are rarely
reported and where human vaccines and immunoglobulin are not readily available or
accessible. It occurs mainly in remote rural communities where children between the age of
514 years are the most frequent victims.

Prevention
Eliminating rabies in dogs
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccinating dogs is the most cost-effective
strategy for preventing rabies in people. Dog vaccination will drive down not only the deaths
attributable to rabies but also the need for PEP as a part of dogbite patient care.
Preventive immunization in people
The same safe and effective vaccines can be used for pre-exposure immunization. This
is recommended for travellers spending a lot of time outdoors, especially in rural areas,
involved in activities such as bicycling, camping, or hiking as well as for long-term travellers
and expatriates living in areas with a significant risk of exposure.
Pre-exposure immunization is also recommended for people in certain high-risk
occupations such as laboratory workers dealing with live rabies virus and other rabies-related
viruses (lyssaviruses), and people involved in any activities that might bring them
professionally or otherwise into direct contact with bats, carnivores, and other mammals in
rabies-affected areas. As children are considered at higher risk because they tend to play with
animals, may receive more severe bites, or may not report bites, their immunization could be
considered if living in or visiting high-risk areas.
Transmission

People are usually infected following a deep bite or scratch by an infected animal.
Dogs are the main host and transmitter of rabies. They are the cause of human rabies deaths in
Asia and Africa.
Transmission can also occur when infectious material usually saliva comes into
direct contact with human mucosa or fresh skin wounds. Human-to-human transmission by
bite is theoretically possible but has never been confirmed.

Rarely, rabies may be contracted by inhalation of virus-containing aerosol or via


transplantation of an infected organ. Ingestion of raw meat or other tissues from animals
infected with rabies is not a source of human infection.

Symptoms

The incubation period for rabies is typically 13 months, but may vary from <1 week to >1
year. The initial symptoms of rabies are fever and often pain or an unusual or unexplained
tingling, pricking or burning sensation (paraesthesia) at the wound site. As the virus spreads
through the central nervous system, progressive, fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal
cord develops.
Two forms of the disease can follow. People with furious rabies exhibit signs of
hyperactivity, excited behaviour, hydrophobia and sometimes aerophobia. After a few days,
death occurs by cardiorespiratory arrest.
Paralytic rabies accounts for about 30% of the total number of human cases. This form of
rabies runs a less dramatic and usually longer course than the furious form. The muscles
gradually become paralyzed, starting at the site of the bite or scratch. A coma slowly
develops, and eventually death occurs.

Local treatment of the wound


This involves first-aid of the wound that includes immediate and thorough flushing
and washing of the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes with soap and water, detergent,
povidone iodine or other substances that kill the rabies virus.

Table: Categories of contact and recommended post-exposure


prophylaxis (PEP)

Categories of contact with suspect


rabid animal

Post-exposure prophylaxis
measures

Category I touching or feeding


animals, licks on intact skin

None

Category II nibbling of uncovered


skin, minor scratches or abrasions
without bleeding

Immediate vaccination and


local treatment of the wound

Category III single or multiple


transdermal bites or scratches, licks on
broken skin; contamination of mucous
membrane with saliva from licks,
contacts with bats.

Immediate vaccination and


administration of rabies
immunoglobulin; local
treatment of the wound

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