Rabies: The Silent Deadly Threat with Nearly 100% Fatality Rate — Symptoms and Correct Prevention Methods

An in-depth look at the dangers of rabies, or hydrophobia, which has an almost universal fatality rate, along with first aid methods.Initial first aid.After animal bites and an easy-to-understand vaccination schedule.

As the hot season arrives, many people tend to worry especially about"rabies."However, did you know that this disease can actually occur year-round and is extremely dangerous, with nearly 100% fatality because there is currently no cure? We have summarized essential information from symptom recognition to correct vaccination for you and your loved ones.

What is rabies? It's not just in dogs.

"Rabies"also commonly known as"hydrophobia,"is a neurological infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans. Despite its name, this virus is not found only in dogs but also in many mammals such as cats, cows, monkeys, rats, rabbits, and other wild animals.

Check the three stages of rabies symptoms, which can be fatal.

Symptoms in infected individuals progress through several stages, and once symptoms appear, death usually follows. Key symptoms include:

• Early stage: Low-grade fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, fatigue, insomnia, and in some cases, itching or pain around the bite wound.
• Neurological stage: Patients become restless, sensitive to light, dislike loud noises, confused, and notably have difficulty swallowing liquids, leading to hydrophobia.
• Final stage: Muscle spasms, limb weakness, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, and death.

First aid methods when bitten or scratched by an animal.

If you or someone close is bitten by an animal suspected of being infected or if animal saliva contacts a wound or mucous membranes (eyes, mouth), immediately do the following:

• Wash the wound immediately: rinse thoroughly with soap and clean water repeatedly for at least 15 minutes to remove as much virus as possible.
• See a doctor urgently: to receive antibiotics to prevent bacterial infection and to assess the need for tetanus and rabies vaccinations based on wound severity.

How many rabies vaccine doses are needed? Prevention before exposure.

The best prevention is vaccination, currently available in two main forms.

1. Pre-exposure vaccination.

Suitable for high-risk groups such as veterinarians, young children, or pet owners.

• Intramuscular injection: 2 doses (day 0 and day 7).
• Intradermal injection: available in a 2-dose schedule (day 0 and day 7) or extended up to day 21-28.

2. Post-exposure booster vaccination.

• If fully vaccinated within the past 6 months: 1 booster dose.
• If last vaccination was over 6 months ago: 2 booster doses (day 0 and day 3).

Rabies is a serious threat always nearby, not just in the hot season. Vaccinating pets on schedule and receiving vaccines for people are the best protections to reduce the risk from this untreatable disease.

Source: Dr. Ploy Patanakitsakul, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical Department, Ramathibodi Hospital.