Following a bite, the rabies virus spreads by way of the nerve cells to the brain. Once in the brain, the virus multiplies rapidly. This activity causes severe inflammation of the brain and spinal cord after which the person deteriorates rapidly and dies.
How do you know if a dog has rabies after biting?
The first symptoms of rabies may be similar to the flu, including weakness or discomfort, fever, or headache. There also may be discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. These symptoms may last for days. Symptoms then progress to cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation.
Can you survive a rabid dog bite?
As we know rabies has approximately 100% mortality rate but by using the aggressive treatment approach (like Milwaukee protocol), the patient may survive. Rabies can be effectively prevented by using adequate postexposure vaccine prophylaxis and rabies immunoglobulin (in category-3) after bite of a rabid animal.
Can a dog infect a human with rabies?
Transmission. People are usually infected following a deep bite or scratch from an animal with rabies, and transmission to humans by rabid dogs accounts for up to 99% of cases. In the Americas, bats are now the major source of human rabies deaths as dog-mediated transmission has mostly been broken in this region.
What do you do if a rabid dog bites you?
Wash the bite area well with soap and water and cover the bite with a clean bandage. Call your doctor right away and go to the nearest emergency department. Anyone with a possible rabies infection must be treated in a hospital. Call local animal-control authorities to help find the animal.
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