Rabies: A 100% Fatal Disease With No Cure And All Facts You Should Know About It
The virus is shed in the rabid animal’s saliva and is transmitted through a bite into human tissues. Whereas in some subjects, the virus is cleared spontaneously, in others, it enters a nerve ending, and then spreads to the central nervous system by passive retrograde axonal transport and trans synaptic transmission. After an incubation period of 5 days to a few months, rarely extending to more than 1 year, rabies virus thus causes an acute progressive encephalomyelitis, which is almost universally fatal. With the elimination of endemic transmission among dogs in the United States, other animal control efforts, well-organized public health and surveillance system, and the availability of reliable human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) and vaccines, rabies has be- come rare, 1 to 2 cases being reported annually since the 1960s.
Rabies virus is still endemic among animals in the wild and among bats in the United States, leading to continuing risk of transmission to humans. Domestic animals, such as cats and dogs, can sometimes get rabies from contact with wild animals and thus pose risk to humans coming in contact with them.. The rabies virus seems to become inaccessible to immune surveillance once it enters a neuron.
A viral infectious disease transmitted form animals to humans is called rabies.
When an animal called rabid, who is a carrier of rabies infection bites humans, rabies is caused.
Main source of animal-to-human transmission are raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes.
rabies infection
Early symptoms are more flu like and can be cold, fever, chills etc. But it can proceed and lead to very serious complications.
Rabies might cause some serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition
Rabies is very fatal and serious and immediate action should be taken.
Increased anxiety levels
Feeling constantly
Feeling very confused
Unable to swallow properly
Problem with nerves
Spasm in the muscles
Constant irritation around the bitten area
Cause behind rabies
When an infected animal or a rabid bites a human, rabies virus from its saliva gets transmitted. Rarely, transmission via air, mucous membranes, organ transplantation cause rabies to spread.
Rabies risk factors
rabies infection
A list of risk factors raises the chances of you getting infected with rabies.
When an animal with rabies bites you
You are not vaccinated with vaccine against rabies
Reducing your risk of rabies
The fatal effects of rabies can be avoided if you seek immediate medical help.
You should react promptly after being bitten by the animal and rush to the hospital.
You should get yourself a vaccine against rabies and human immune globulin antibody.
Injection.
So what can you do in order to decrease the risk of getting rabies:
Stay away from animals to might possess the rabies virus
If you think you pet is exposed to rabies then rush to the doctor as soon as possible.
Thoroughly clean and wash your wound with an antiseptic
Your pets at home should be properly vaccinated
Get your self the vaccine against rabies immediately after being bitten by the animal
Treatment for rabies
rabies infection treatment
If you don’t act promptly and get yourself vaccinated then you might face fatal consequences. As this disease advances or progresses very quickly, immediate action is needed. You should follow the treatment plan advised by your physician or healthcare provider. It might entail proper wound care for the bite and vaccinations needed after you are exposed to rabies. The sick animals should be separated from the animals who’s health is fine. The sick animals should undergo a thorough examination of the brain specially. The healthy animals should be vaccinated as per the protocol advised by the doctor.
Take care of your wound by following these steps
To prevent infection from happening, clean and sterilize the wound thoroughly
Get yourself tested in case you have any damage to the nerves
Get yourself vaccinated after you have been bitten
What all vaccinations you should take?
Human rabies immune globulin
Rabies vaccine
Serious complications that occur because of rabies
Complications of rabies can be potentially serious and may even cause death. This scenario is especially true if rabies symptoms are not treated immediately and the infection progresses very fast. Without post-exposure treatment, the rabies infection is very life damaging. Take guidance and support from your doctor and follow all his instructions well.
A potential complication of rabies is an allergic response to the vaccination
CONCLUSION
In case you get bitten by an infected animal and get rabies, get immediate help from nearby medical facility and get yourself a rabies vaccine. Your doctor or physician might call you for a follow-up and give you list of recommendations to follow. You may take some pain medicines as and when needed.