Important things to know about rabies disease, take care!!
Of all the animals, dogs might be human`s best friend as they are very faithful. Bitter fact is that some dogs can also cause a deadly disease in us. Shocking right!!
Recently, in Madurai, a 25 year old man was bitten by a stray cat and he developed rabies. This has created a huge sensation is well known.
In Asia and in Africa if there is one viral disease that is responsible for many deaths then it is rabies. It is worth mentioning here that rabies could be prevented by vaccination and early intervention. Rabies is a deadly viral disease caused by rabies virus and it could even lead to death if untreated. Bite or even scratch of an infected animal especially dogs could cause rabies in humans. It has been brought to light by WHO or World health organisation that every year deaths due to rabies are 59000.
After an incubation period of one to three months, rabies symptoms often appear in us. In the beginning, rabies would appear as flu but later on could cause few neurological symptoms.
Symptoms of rabies are
Fever and headache:
The infected persons might experience general weakness, fever, headache etc. Point is that flu-like symptoms could be there for many days before progressing.
Pain or tingling sensation:
Unusual tingling, itching, burning sensation at the site of animal bite or scratch etc are one of the most important signs of rabies. Viruses affecting the nerves are shown by this first sign.
Anxiety and confusion:
Persons with rabies would show signs of anxiety, aggression, confusion etc. People would also show mood changes and restlessness etc.
Difficulty swallowing and hydrophobia:
The painful spasm in the throat muscle would make swallowing very difficult in rabies affected persons. Persons would show fear in drinking water or hydrophobia which is an important sign of rabies.
Excess saliva formation:
As the swallowing becomes difficult in those affected with rabies, saliva production would get increased.
Hallucination and paralysis:
It mustst be noted that rabies in advanced stages could lead to hallucinations, delirium, insomnia etc and even partial paralysis. The infected patient could go into coma and death also.
Reasons for rabies are
Animal bites:
Dog bites account for 99% of rabies cases and this was as per World Health Organisation.
Scratches or open wounds:
If the infected person`s salve comes into contact with the open wound of a person, then even without bite rabies can be transferred to another person.
Inhalation of infected droplets (rare):
Though rare, transmission of rabies virus could also take place by inhalation of droplets. This happens mostly in the researchers etc.
Exposure to bats, raccoons etc:
Not many would know that in many developed nations bat bites have been responsible for rabies disease in humans. Rabies is also possible due to the bite of raccoons, foxes etc.
