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| '''Rabies''' is a very dangerous ] that causes acute ] in infected ]s and people. Rabies is carried by many species of warm-blooded animal. The virus is carried in the ], and the commonest route of infection is via the bite from an infected animal. Once transferred, the virus travels to the ] where it incubates for 3-12 weeks before causing signs of ]-like illness to appear. Soon after, the symptoms expand to ], ], ], ], progressing to ], abnormal behavior, ]s, and ]. Death results 2-10 days later. | '''Rabies''' is a very dangerous ] that causes acute ] in infected ]s and people. Rabies is carried by many species of warm-blooded animal. The virus is carried in the ], and the commonest route of infection is via the bite from an infected animal. Once transferred, the virus travels to the ] where it incubates for 3-12 weeks before causing signs of ]-like illness to appear. Soon after, the symptoms expand to ], ], ], ], progressing to ], abnormal behavior, ]s, and ]. Death results 2-10 days later. | ||
| There is no cure for fully-blown rabies, but there is a ] to prevent it, and a prophylactic ] treatment which is highly successful if adminstered promptly after exposure. Untreated rabies will result in death, but since the development of effective human vaccines and |
There is no cure for fully-blown rabies, but there is a ] to prevent it, and a prophylactic ] treatment which is highly successful if adminstered promptly after exposure. Untreated rabies will result in death, but since the development of effective human vaccines and immunoglobulin treatments the US death rate from rabies has dropped from 100 or more per year earlier this century, to 1-2 per year, mostly caused by bat bites. The death rate from rabies is much higher in third-world countries. | ||
| Specific medical attention for someone exposed to rabies is called ] or PEP. In the United States, postexposure prophylaxis consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given by your health care provider as soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses or rabies vaccine should be given on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the first vaccination. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in your arm, like a flu or tetanus vaccine. | Specific medical attention for someone exposed to rabies is called ] or PEP. In the United States, postexposure prophylaxis consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given by your health care provider as soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses or rabies vaccine should be given on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the first vaccination. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in your arm, like a flu or tetanus vaccine. | ||
Revision as of 22:06, 15 June 2002
Rabies is a very dangerous virus that causes acute encephalitis in infected animals and people. Rabies is carried by many species of warm-blooded animal. The virus is carried in the saliva, and the commonest route of infection is via the bite from an infected animal. Once transferred, the virus travels to the brain where it incubates for 3-12 weeks before causing signs of flu-like illness to appear. Soon after, the symptoms expand to cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, agitation, progressing to delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and insomnia. Death results 2-10 days later.
There is no cure for fully-blown rabies, but there is a vaccine to prevent it, and a prophylactic immunoglobulin treatment which is highly successful if adminstered promptly after exposure. Untreated rabies will result in death, but since the development of effective human vaccines and immunoglobulin treatments the US death rate from rabies has dropped from 100 or more per year earlier this century, to 1-2 per year, mostly caused by bat bites. The death rate from rabies is much higher in third-world countries.
Specific medical attention for someone exposed to rabies is called postexposure prophylaxis or PEP. In the United States, postexposure prophylaxis consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given by your health care provider as soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses or rabies vaccine should be given on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 after the first vaccination. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in your arm, like a flu or tetanus vaccine.
The stereotypical image of a rabid animal is a 'mad dog' foaming at the mouth, but rabies can also infect racoons, chipmunks, bats and other small carnivorous mammals. Squirrels, rodents and rabbits are very seldom infected with rabies. Domestic pets need to be immunised against rabies to protect them.
Rabies is endemic to many parts of the world, and one of the reasons for quarantine periods in international animal transport is to try to keep it out of uninfected regions. Australia is one of the few parts of the world where rabies has never been introduced.
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