If you have an animal pet then you should be curious to learn about rabies and its impacts on humans hence the need to properly and frequently get your pet medically checked. Some countries believe dogs to be the originator and carrier of these viruses. When you mention “rabies” a little child will likely point to a nearby dog. Ironically, rabies does not pertain to dogs but to all furry animals.
It is important to learn more about rabies, the impacts on humans, the symptoms and how to get it treated if possible.
What You Should Know About Rabies?
Rabies is an illness contracted from an infected animal. Rabies is a viral illness identified as RABV virus. Current theories admit that Rabies originated in old world bats caused by Iyssaviruses. It is usually transmitted through bite or scratch from infected animals.
It is clearly known that only mammals can get infected with RAB virus. Since humans are mammals, there is a sure possibility of contracting the virus. In the United States it’s been reported that animals such as bats, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and skunks are most likely to transmit rabies.
Rabies patients do sometimes bark and that is why people in areas where dogs easily carry rabies feel that dogs are the only transmitters of rabies. What leads to barking is as a result of neurological symptoms as the disease is left untreated which can lead to agitation and confusion resulting in unusual vocals.
The Impact Of Rabies on Humans
Humans are not exempted from getting infected with rabies. Sadly rabies can be detrimental to health if ignored. When a person becomes infected and the virus gets to the brain, that can be hazardous.
At the initial stage, rabies starts as flu and body weakness which can be wrongly addressed hence the need to always go for a diagnosis when sick. As time goes on it progresses to dysfunction of the cerebrum, anxiety and agitation resulting in fears and hallucinations.
Rabies often causes fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. The last phases of rabies is paralysis and coma. At the stage of coma, life can be lost. It is often difficult to treat once the brain has been affected because the immune cells, antibodies and blood brain barrier has been locked down, even antiviral drugs won’t go through.
Know Rabies Symptoms
Rabies has three clinical phases. These phases show the initial stage and the critical stage.
- The Prodromal phase: this usually last 2 to 4 days leading to the signs below:
- Feverish conditions
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Unsteady feelings
- Pains in the bitten spot
- The Excitation phase: this phase can lead to death. The signs get worse. It displays as follows:
- Agitation
- Hallucination
- Difficulty swallowing
- Aggression
- Confusion
- Excess saliva
- The Paralytic Phase: is referred to as the dumb phase breeds the signs below:
- Weakness of muscles
- Throat paralysis
- Fear of water
- Coma
- Death
How To Treat Rabies?
Rabies can rarely be treated effectively. Only a few people have been successfully treated. If you are bitten or scratched by an infected animal, don’t delay a bit to seek medical attention. Rabies get impossible to treat when symptoms start surfacing. Rabies can be treated in the following ways:
- Through the use of vaccination such as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) rendered immediately, it can easily annihilate the virus.
- The spot of bite or scratch should be treated properly in order to reduce the risk of infection circulating.
- If rabies symptoms become visible, it is best to seek immediate medical attention. If not, it will lead to death as the virus will become difficult to treat once it gets to the brain.
Read More:- Prevention Of Chagas Disease – What Are Major Symptoms Of Chagas Disease?
Conclusion
Rabies is not an illness to joke with. The best way to prevent the virus from spreading to vital organs of the body, most especially the brain, is to immediately seek medical attention once bitten. A little delay will lead to the symptoms listed above and only few individuals have been reported to survive rabies.
From the onset of the symptoms, it progresses rapidly but early detection can lead to effective treatment and the virus is completely wiped off the body. Rabies can be inactive in the body from 1 to 3 months before symptoms appear. The first symptom is usually fever. No level of ailment should be taken lightly, at all intervals endeavor to get diagnosed to be rightly treated.
