Rabies transmission and post exposure treatment

Rabies is a zoonotic, neuroinvasive viral disease, which causes acute encephalitis in humans. Rabies virus mainly attacks nervous system. Once the neurological symptoms are developed, rabies becomes fatal in non immunized individuals.  If post exposure immunization is given after appearance of symptoms, the severity can be reduced.

Rabies causes hydrophobia, the fear of water.  All mammals can get rabies and humans can get an infection through infected mammals like infected pet animals.

Transmission of rabies:-

• Domestic animals such as dog can get Rabies infection. If the infected dog bites us, the rabies transmits to us and we might get rabies.
• In some countries bat rabies has taken the lives of thousands.
• Wild animals biting human beings can also transmit rabies virus.
• Most common method of rabies infection in man is because of infected dog and cat bite.
• Wild animals, such as foxes, raccoons, skunks, wolves,wild bats  also transmits rabies.
• Domestic animals such as cattle, horses and other herbivorous animals can also be infected with rabies and can transmit to other animals and also to man, but its not common in occurrence .

Post exposure treatment of rabies:-

• After an animal bites  the wound should be washed with moving water.  Rinsed with soap and  washed with warm water. After wash tincture or  iodine should be applied.
• Anti Rabies vaccine should be given as soon as possible after the animal bites, as per WHO regimens.
• Anti rabies immunoglobulin should be applied to all categories. The wound should be well closed.
• Other treatments such as anti tetanus, antimicrobial should be given.
• The purified horse immunoglobulin can be given.