Rabies Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Rabies is a viral infection spread by the bites or scratches of sick animals. In Indonesia, this disease is known as mad dog.
These health problems can cause serious infections because the virus will attack the nervous system and brain.
Acute symptoms of rabies are flu-like and last 2–10 days. Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies will become a fatal disease.
99 percent of rabies is transmitted by dogs. But actually, it’s not just the intermediate dog.
Other wild animals, such as raccoons, wolves, skunks, raccoons, bats, foxes and cats, can also carry and transmit the virus that causes rabies.
Rabies
| Medical specialist | Internal medicine specialist |
| Symptom | Flu-like symptoms, loss of consciousness, seizures |
| risk factor | Wild animal bites |
| How to diagnose | History, physical examination, saliva sample, blood serum, spinal fluid |
| Treatment | Rabies vaccine, tetanus vaccine, wound care |
| Drug | Anti-pain, antipyretic |
| Complications | Loss of consciousness, convulsions |
| When to see a doctor? | If there is a history of bites by wild animals with suspicion of rabies infection |
Rabies Symptom
The incubation period (no symptoms of infection) for the rabies virus usually lasts 1-3 months. However, the incubation time can also vary, namely 1 week-1 year.
The first and early symptoms of rabies are flu-like, with fever, headache, and general weakness or malaise.
These symptoms can last up to several days.
Symptoms of rabies will appear a few days later, including:
- Discomfort, itching, or prickling at the bite wound
- Worry
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Loss of consciousness
- Abnormal behavior
- Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren’t real)
- Producing a lot of saliva or foaming at the mouth
- Spasm or muscle stiffness
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Unable to move (paralysis)
- Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
- brain dysfunction
Rabies Reason
Rabies is caused by the lyssavirus. This virus can only be transmitted through the saliva, bites and scratches of infected animals.
In rare cases, infected animals that lick wounds can also transmit rabies.
It should be remembered that rabies is not transmitted through blood (skin sores) or person to person.
Risk Factors
A person will be at risk of contracting rabies if he has a history of being bitten by a wild animal that is infected with rabies.
Diagnosis
In diagnosing rabies, the doctor will first ask about the symptoms the patient is feeling, including whether you have received a rabies vaccination.
Next, the doctor will proceed with a physical examination, for example scratch marks, bites, or open wounds that are suspected to have been licked by an infected animal.
In addition, to ensure the presence of the rabies virus, you can do several tests, such as:
- Saliva sample, to detect rabies virus
- Blood serum and spinal fluid. Antibodies to the rabies virus can be found in blood serum and spinal fluid
- Hair follicle skin biopsy at the nape of the neck. The hair root sample is examined to see if it contains rabies virus antigen.
Meanwhile, to see the presence of the rabies virus in animals, it can be done by examining the direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) on the animal’s brain tissue.
Rabies Treatment
Rabies is a fatal condition whose treatment should not be delayed. Immediately wash the bite wound with soap and running water for several minutes to reduce the chance of infection.
After that, consult a doctor for wound care and rabies vaccine within a few hours after being bitten by a wild animal.
The rabies vaccine is not only done in one injection. Additional doses need to be given again on days 3, 7, and 14.
In addition, the tetanus vaccine may also be needed if you have not been vaccinated within 10 years. The vaccine will be injected in the hand.
Subsequent treatment is given according to the symptoms experienced, such as painkillers or antipyretics. This aims to prevent the expansion of infection and secondary infection.
Handling and treatment of rabies must be done as soon as possible. Once symptoms appear, most cases of rabies can be fatal.
Prevention
Some of the things below can help you avoid being infected with mad dog disease:
- Avoid contamination of wild animal saliva
- Also, vaccinate dogs and other pets
- Also, avoid contact with animals with no clear history of rabies vaccine or wild animals. Remember, not all animals are infected with this virus like rabid dogs. Some animals actually behave normally
- Don’t touch dead wild animals
- Avoid contact with cats or dogs that have characteristics of rabies, such as restlessness, restlessness, fear, sensitivity and irritability, and fever
- Take care of children around animals, especially unfamiliar ones
- If you work in a field with a high risk of rabies, such as animal caretakers or laboratory workers who handle the rabies virus, get a rabies vaccination
Complications
Rabies infection that is not handled properly can cause various fatal complications.
One of them is a disorder of the nervous system that can cause a decrease in consciousness until death.
When to See a Doctor?
If there is a history of being bitten by a wild animal suspected of having rabies, it is highly recommended to see a doctor immediately.