From the Guidelines
Rabies symptoms typically begin with flu-like signs including fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort, and if left untreated, the disease is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear: cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation, delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia 1. Physical manifestations include hypersalivation (excessive drooling), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water) 1. Paralysis may eventually set in, followed by coma and death. The incubation period varies widely, from weeks to months, depending on the bite location and viral load.
Key Symptoms
- Flu-like signs: fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort
- Cerebral dysfunction
- Anxiety, confusion, agitation, delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia
- Hypersalivation (excessive drooling)
- Difficulty swallowing
- Hydrophobia (fear of water)
- Paralysis
- Coma
- Death Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, which is why immediate medical attention after potential exposure is critical. Treatment involves thorough wound cleaning and post-exposure prophylaxis with rabies immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccines, with a recommended 4-dose vaccination regimen for previously unvaccinated persons 1. These preventive measures are highly effective when administered promptly after exposure but before symptoms develop. The virus attacks the central nervous system, which explains the neurological symptoms that characterize the disease's progression.
Prevention and Treatment
- Thorough wound cleaning
- Post-exposure prophylaxis with rabies immune globulin
- 4-dose vaccination regimen for previously unvaccinated persons
- Prompt medical attention after potential exposure is critical to prevent the disease.
From the Research
Rabies Symptoms Overview
- Rabies is a highly fatal zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus invading the central nervous system 2
- It is a lethal disease once symptoms appear, making prevention crucial 3
- The disease is responsible for over 59,000 deaths worldwide annually 4
Prevention and Treatment
- Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be administered as soon as possible when suspected of exposure to the rabies virus 2
- PEP consists of washing the wound, assessing the need for rabies biologicals, administering rabies immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibodies, and starting the WHO-recommended intradermal 1-week vaccination regimen 3
- Human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) is a life-saving immune biological essential for all category III animal exposures 5
Importance of Prompt Treatment
- Rapid recognition of potential exposures is vital to patient care and protection of public health 4
- Appropriate use of pre- and postexposure prophylaxis can eliminate the risk of developing rabies if administered according to guidelines 4
- Delayed treatment can lead to fatal consequences, making prompt action essential 3