Rabies is a deadly virus transmitted to humans through the saliva of infected domestic or wild animals , such as stray dogs or cats, foxes, rodents and others.The virus is transmitted when infected saliva comes into contact with open wounds on the human body, most often through a bite. In rare cases, the virus can be transmitted when infected saliva comes into contact with the mucous membranes of the mouth or eyes.
The virus spreads in the body not through the blood, but along nerve fibers towards the brain. Accordingly, the closer to the head the location of the lesion, the faster the incubation period.
If you come into contact with a suspicious animal, you should immediately go to the emergency room – a rabies vaccination is given on the first day after the bite.
In the absence of timely vaccination, the virus will lead to irreversible damage to the brain and death. In this case, unfortunately, the only way doctors can help the patient is to slightly alleviate his suffering with the help of potent narcotic painkillers.
In the initial period of the disease, a person may feel normal, but later flu-like symptoms appear, which can last for several days. After which the condition worsens sharply.
You can’t wait for the symptoms of rabies[2], you need to be proactive. Otherwise you risk your life.
| Main symptoms |
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| How it spreads | The deadly virus is transmitted to humans through the saliva of infected animals. |
| Who is sick | All people get sick, regardless of age and gender. |
| At-risk groups |
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Diagnosis of rabies in humans
It is impossible to know immediately after a bite whether the rabies virus has been transmitted to a person. It happens that the wound is not very large or no traces of the bite are visible at all, for example, when a bat or other small animal bites.
A doctor can prescribe many tests to detect the virus in a person, but do not wait for the results, but take immediate action.
In general, you can find out whether a person is sick or not by passing the following tests:
- PCR of cerebrospinal fluid;
- PCR of saliva or tissues;
- biochemical blood tests.
When should a person be vaccinated against rabies?
Rabies vaccination (rabies vaccine) is a vaccination that is better to do than not to do when there is no confidence that the animal is vaccinated and healthy.
Be sure to start vaccination:
- when bitten by an animal (including a rodent) diagnosed with rabies or if it cannot be tested for the presence of this disease;
- if the mucous membranes or skin are exposed to the saliva of an animal diagnosed with rabies or if it cannot be tested for the presence of this disease[3];
- if you are injured by an object that potentially rabid animals may have previously come into contact with;
- if the person is bitten by another person with hydrophobia (this is a possible symptom of rabies).
Are there any contraindications to rabies vaccination?
There is no mass prevention of this disease using vaccines for people. The vaccine is given to people after contact with an animal in which rabies cannot be ruled out.
However, there are certain groups of people who receive rabies vaccinations for preventive purposes. This is shown to those who constantly encounter various animals, including wild ones: veterinary services employees, game wardens, foresters, animal catchers, etc.
It is important to remember that rabies vaccination, if there is a real threat, has no contraindications. If a person is bitten by a potentially dangerous animal, vaccination must be done. Even pregnant women, children and people with weakened immune systems or chronic diseases. Because the price is too high.
But preventive vaccination for risk groups can be postponed in the following cases:
- If a person is currently suffering from acute infectious diseases or his chronic diseases have worsened. The rabies vaccine can be administered one month after recovery.
- The person had a severe allergy to a previous vaccination, such as angioedema.
- Pregnancy.
How many vaccinations does a person need to get?
There are still horror stories about the inevitable 40 injections in the stomach if you are bitten by a stray dog. So, this is an old scheme that has not been used for a long time.
Vaccination against rabies takes place in only six stages, 1 ml of vaccine intramuscularly. Usually the vaccine is given in the shoulder (adults) and in the outer thigh (small children).
Schedule of injections by day
| 1st vaccination | on the day of application (0th day) |
| 2nd vaccination | on the 3rd day |
| 3rd vaccination | on the 7th day |
| 4th vaccination | on the 14th day |
| 5th vaccination | on the 30th day |
| 6th vaccination | on the 90th day |
Where can I get a rabies vaccination?
The rabies vaccine should be administered after examination by a doctor. It is highly advisable to do this on the day of the bite or as soon as possible. The sooner vaccination starts, the sooner immunity will be formed.
Vaccination against rabies prevents the occurrence of the disease in 96–98%, that is, it is a highly effective vaccine. Of course, if you get vaccinated without deviating from the schedule and comply with other important conditions, which we also talk about in this article.
Where to contact
- To the nearest trauma center.
- To the nearest government clinic or hospital.
Important! In state clinics, vaccinations against rabies are given free of charge, regardless of whether you have a compulsory medical insurance policy[4].
- To the nearest commercial center (vaccination is paid for).
Side effects after rabies vaccination
The rabies vaccine is safe and aims to generate a sustained immune response to the rabies virus during its incubation period (30–90 days).
Normal
- Local reactions – the injection site turns red, may itch, and a lump appears at the injection site.
- Common reactions are fever, body weakness, headache, joint pain, abdominal pain, nausea and dizziness.
- Minor allergic reactions.
Dangerous
- Serious allergic reactions, such as angioedema (very rare).
- You should consult a doctor if unpleasant symptoms (fever, headache, etc.) do not go away after a couple of days.
What not to do during rabies vaccination
The main goal of any vaccination is the formation of stable immunity. In the case of rabies vaccination, this is especially important because the disease is fatal. During the course and for some time after it, in accordance with the official instructions for the rabies vaccine, the following things are prohibited.
Get other vaccinations
You cannot do other vaccinations, with the exception of drugs prescribed for health reasons. Vaccination against other infections is possible 2 months after the last rabies vaccination.
Drink alcohol
Strong drinks are also prohibited; doctors do not recommend drinking alcohol not only during vaccination, but also for six months after it.
Overheat
During rabies vaccination, doctors do not recommend taking a steam bath or sauna, lying on the beach, or simply overheating in the sun.
Take some medications
Corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are also prohibited. If you do take these drugs, you should constantly evaluate your antibody levels (after consulting your doctor).
Exercising too hard
You shouldn’t overload your body with sports: too much stress can negatively affect the formation of immunity.
Step-by-step instructions on what to do immediately after a bite
We explain what to do if you are bitten by an animal[5] whose rabies status you do not know.
Step 1. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
We wash the wound or scratch for at least 15 minutes, this way we are more likely to remove the animal’s saliva.
Step 2. After this, we immediately go to the emergency room
Even if it’s night outside: emergency rooms work around the clock. You can also go to the nearest clinic, hospital or commercial center.
In government institutions, your wound will be treated and a full course of vaccination will be given free of charge. You will also be registered for possible exposure to rabies. In private hospitals they will do the same thing, but for money.
Step 3. We begin and complete the vaccination course
After the first vaccination, your doctor will schedule your vaccination schedule. By the way, if it turns out that the animal was not sick at the time of the bite, vaccination can be stopped and the remaining vaccinations not completed. Typically, this requires observing the animal that bit you for 10 days.
What rabies vaccines are there?
There are quite a few different rabies vaccinations in the world. We have three registered vaccines in Russia, which are inactivated rabies virus.
- KOKAV (rabies vaccine, produced in the Russian Federation);
- CAV (rabies vaccine, produced in the Russian Federation);
- Rapibur (rabies vaccine, made in Germany).
Doctor’s review of rabies vaccination
Protective antibodies begin to appear two weeks after the first injection, reaching their maximum by the 30–40th day.
If a short incubation period of the virus is expected, for example, with a bite in the arm, neck or face, an additional injection of rabies immunoglobulin is given (in the first three days after the bite).
Questions and answers
We asked a doctor to answer frequently asked questions about the rabies vaccine.
What happens if you change the date of your rabies vaccination?
It is important to strictly adhere to the timing of vaccination, since any violation of the drug administration regimen can negatively affect the formation of the immune response.
If the timing of vaccination has nevertheless shifted (even by a day), for example, you missed one or more vaccinations, then it is necessary to evaluate your antibody level; you may have to administer an additional vaccine.
Should my dog or cat be vaccinated against rabies?
You can protect yourself and your loved ones by rabies vaccination, which is given to all domestic dogs and cats without exception.
Even if the cat lives only in an apartment and does not have contact with other animals, it is important to vaccinate once a year, starting from 2 months of age. By the way, for animals it is also not recommended to violate the vaccination schedule, as this can reduce the effectiveness of immunoprophylaxis of the disease.
How long should you drink alcohol during rabies vaccination?
During the vaccination course and six months after its completion, it is strictly prohibited to drink any alcohol.
In addition, it is important to follow general recommendations for maintaining health: do not get too cold, do not overheat, and limit excessive physical activity. In short, factors that contribute to a decrease in immunity should be excluded.
What is the average cost of a rabies vaccination?
In public clinics and hospitals, vaccinations against rabies are provided free of charge, regardless of whether you have a compulsory medical insurance policy. The average cost of one rabies vaccination in commercial centers: 2000–3000 rubles. Sometimes this amount includes a doctor’s examination, in other cases it is paid separately.
Is it possible to become infected with rabies again after vaccination?
Immunization against rabies does not protect against subsequent infection. If contact with an unfamiliar animal occurs a year after vaccination, a repeat full course of vaccinations is required