Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.
The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. The early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of many other illnesses, including fever, headache, and general weakness or discomfort. As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation (increase in saliva), difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia (fear of water). Epidemiology
Animals most commonly associated with the transmission of rabies infection include bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes.
Rabies is rarely or never transmitted by squirrels, chipmunks, rats, mice, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, or rabbits.
Effects of Rabies
Clinical Presentation
Prodromal phase (2–10 days): fever, headache, photophobia, anorexia, sore throat, musculoskeletal pain, itching, pain, and tingling at the site of the bite
Acute neurologic phase (2–30 days): delirium, paralysis, hydrophobia, coma, and respiratory arrest
Laboratory Studies
The virus may be isolated from the saliva, and viral nucleic acid may be detected in infected tissues.
Treatment
Scratches or bites should be thoroughly irrigated with soap and water.
Rabies immune globulin (RIG) should be given concurrently with the first dose of vaccine. Rabies vaccine should not be administered in the same part of the body used to administer RIG.
If a bat is discovered in a room with a sleeping, intoxicated, or very young person, rabies prophylaxis is recommended even if the person does not recall a bite.
Domesticated animals that are captured should be observed closely by local animal control officials for 10 days for evidence of rabies. No case of human rabies has been attributed when an animal remained healthy throughout this confinement period.
Wild animals should be immediately euthanized for examination of the brain by local health officials
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