Overview of Rabies

Rabies is a deadly viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. It is mainly transmitted through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most commonly dogs. The virus travels through the nerves and eventually attacks the brain, causing severe neurological symptoms and, if untreated, death. Rabies is preventable through prompt vaccination and medical care. Awareness, early detection, and prevention are key to controlling this fatal condition.

Types of Rabies

1. Furious Rabies: The more common form, marked by aggression, hallucinations, and hydrophobia (fear of water).

2. Paralytic Rabies: Slower progression, causing muscle weakness and paralysis before death.

3. Rabies in Animals: Cats, dogs, bats, and wild animals like raccoons or foxes can carry the virus.

4. Human Rabies: Rare but fatal when symptoms appear; caused by virus transmission from infected animals.

Symptoms of Rabies

Fever and general weakness

Pain or tingling at the bite site

Anxiety, agitation and confusion

Difficulty swallowing and excessive salivation

Muscle spasms and seizures

Hallucinations and aggressive behavior

Hydrophobia (fear of water)

Paralysis and coma in later stages

Causes of Rabies

Bites or scratches from infected animals

Exposure to infected saliva via broken skin or mucous membranes

Bat bites, even unnoticed, are a major cause of human rabies

Handling infected animals without protective gear

Complications in Rabies

Progressive paralysis and coma

Fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord

Cardiac or respiratory failure

Irreversible neurological damage

Death, once symptoms begin, is almost always inevitable

Risk Factors of Rabies

Living in areas with poor animal vaccination coverage

Delayed or no post-exposure vaccination

Working with animals or in laboratories handling rabies virus

Children playing unsupervised around animals

Exposure to wildlife, especially bats, raccoons or stray dogs

Preventions of Rabies

Timely rabies vaccine for pets and people at risk

Rabies shots after animal bites (post-exposure prophylaxis)

Regular dog rabies vaccine and rabies vaccine for cats

Avoid contact with stray or wild animals

Immediate washing and disinfecting of bite wounds

Public awareness about how animals get rabies and how it spreads