Rabies

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Rabies is a disease caused by a germ called a virus. Rabies affects the central nervous system of the body. The central nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Rabies occurs when the rabies virus enters the body and reaches the brain. People can get rabies from an animal bite. Animals that can spread rabies include dogs, coyotes, cats, raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats. If saliva or other tissues of a rabid animal enter a person's open wound, abrasion, eyes, or mouth, rabies may occur. Immediately and completely cleaning a bite wound may prevent a wound infection and decrease the risk of getting rabies.
  
  
• Early signs and symptoms of rabies include weakness, headaches, and fever (high body temperature). If you were bitten by an animal, there may be pain, numbness, or itching in the area of the bite. Later signs and symptoms include confusion (trouble thinking clearly), restlessness, anxiety, trouble swallowing, or seizures (convulsions). If you were bitten, the animal will be tested to check if it has rabies. To learn if you have rabies, caregivers will collect blood samples for tests. They may collect and test a sample of skin (biopsy), saliva, tears, or fluid around the brain and spinal cord. Rabies vaccinations (shots) given before or right after exposure to rabies may help prevent infection by the rabies virus. Treatment includes medicine, and treating symptoms and problems caused by rabies, such as seizures. Treating rabies as soon as possible after exposure may prevent more serious problems, and increase your chance of recovering.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

• Vaccine: A rabies vaccine (shot) is given to help your body make antibodies to fight the virus and help prevent rabies. The vaccine may be given before caregivers know that you have been exposed to rabies (preexposure). It also can be given when caregivers learn that you have been exposed to rabies (postexposure).
  
  
  • If you have been exposed to the rabies virus and you have not been given the vaccine in the past, you will be given four different doses. These will be given on four different days within a 1-month period. You will also be given a shot of rabies immune globulin.
    
    
  • If you have been given the rabies vaccine in the past and have now been exposed to the virus, you will receive two doses, given three days apart.
    
    
  • If you are at risk of being exposed to rabies, you will be given three doses on three different days. These are given within a 1-month period.
  
  
• Rabies immune globulin: If you have been exposed to rabies, you may be given rabies immune globulin to attack the virus. This medicine will also help your immune system fight the infection. If you have been given the rabies vaccine in the past, you will not be given this medicine.
  
  
• Td vaccine: This vaccine is a booster shot used to help prevent diphtheria and tetanus. The Td booster may be given to adolescents and adults every 10 years or for certain wounds and injuries.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Preventing rabies:

• Get vaccinated (shots) against rabies to prevent infection. This may be needed if your work puts you at risk of getting rabies. You may also get shots if you plan to travel to places where the chance of getting rabies is high. If you are going to travel, visit your caregiver 3 to 4 weeks before you leave. You may need to get a booster shot after some time. Ask your caregiver for more information on rabies shots.
  
  
• Avoid contact with bats or going to places where they are likely to be found. Avoid contact with wild animals. Do not try to take them home with you. Do not approach any tame or wild animal that you have not seen before.
  
  
• Get medical care if you get bitten by a wild animal or a bat, even if the wound is very small. Talk with your caregiver if you wake up and find a bat in the room, even if you think you have not been bitten.
  
  
• Cover windows and other openings in your home with screens. This may help keep bats from getting into your house.
  
  
• Get your pet vaccinated against rabies.

Rest:

Rest when you feel it is needed. Slowly start to do more each day. Return to your daily activities as directed.

What to do if you get an animal bite:

• Clean the bite wound. Clean the bite wound well, using soap and water, or povidone-iodine solution mixed with water. Doing this right after being bitten decreases the chance of getting a wound infection, and can decrease the risk of getting rabies.
  
  
• Cover the wound with a clean bandage.
  
  
• See your caregiver right away. Caregivers may need to treat the wound and close it using stitches. You may need to take medicine, such as antibiotics, to help fight or treat infection.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• After taking a new kind of medicine, you get a rash, or your skin becomes itchy, red, and swollen.
  
  
• After treatment, you have pain, itching, and other symptoms that are getting worse over time.
  
  
• Your symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or headaches, do not get better after treatment.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about rabies and rabies treatment.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You may have been, or you have been exposed to rabies.
  
  
• You have been bitten by an animal.
  
  
• After exposure to rabies, you have trouble swallowing, slurred speech, double vision, or you see things that are not really there. You may also begin twitching, have muscle cramps, or have a seizure.
  
  
• After exposure to rabies, you feel weak, tired, dizzy, confused, restless, or anxious.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Rabies (Aftercare Instructions)