Let's learn more about rabies. Don't be afraid, understand these things!

We've all heard that some animals can cause dangerous diseases when they bite us, right? There are times when we get a little scared if we accidentally bite a puppy or a kitten, whether we're just cuddling or just being affectionate. At times like these, the most frightening, but largely preventable, disease is rabies. So, shall we talk about this in detail and simply today?

What is this hydrophobia?

Simply put, rabies is a mild, but often preventable, disease caused by a virus. However, if it does occur, it can be very dangerous. This virus mainly attacks our nervous system and brain.

Think about it, nerves are like wires that carry messages in our bodies. So this virus damages that system.

Do you know how this disease is transmitted to us? Usually, this happens when an animal with rabies bites us. The virus is present in the saliva of that animal. But the most important thing is that if you get treatment immediately and properly after an animal bite, you can completely prevent the disease from developing. However, if you don't get treatment and the disease enters the body and symptoms start appearing, it is really difficult to escape from it, and in many cases it can be fatal.

What are the symptoms of rabies?

Okay, now let's see what symptoms occur when rabies develops. These symptoms do not appear immediately. They can appear within a few days of being bitten by an animal, and sometimes it can take more than a year for symptoms to appear. That's why it's not a good idea to ignore an animal bite.

The first symptoms may be similar to those of a common cold:

• There may be slight numbness, itching, or burning around the area where the animal bit you.
• At the same time, you may feel a fever, headache, and body aches (especially in the muscles) .
• Loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue throughout the day may also occur.

These initial symptoms last for a few days, and then the serious neurological symptoms start to appear. Those are the ones that are really dangerous.

• Restlessness, irritability, and anxiety increase.
• Some people may experience confusion or experience hallucinations (seeing or feeling things that are not real) .
• It can be muscle tension, body twitching, or unusual body postures .
• Seizures may occur.
• Some parts of the body may feel numb (paralysis) or unable to move.
• They are very sensitive to bright lights, noises, or anything touching their bodies. They can't stand even the slightest sound.

Another thing is that a person with rabies may produce a lot of saliva . Also, because the muscles in the throat tighten,It becomes difficult to swallow. That is why we see the symptom of "mucus coming out of the mouth" that we have heard. Because of this difficulty in swallowing, there is a fear of choking even if you try to drink water. This is also called "fear of water" (`hydrophobia`) . It is a characteristic and well-known symptom of this disease.

What causes hydrophobia?

The main reason for this is the rabies virus. This virus lives in the saliva of an animal that has it. Imagine, when such an animal bites us, this virus enters our body through a broken skin wound, or sometimes if the saliva gets into our eyes, nose, or mouth. Then it slowly travels along the nerves and reaches the brain. Only after reaching the brain does this virus spread rapidly and start damaging the brain and nerves.

In many countries of the world, especially in developing countries like ours, the main reason why people contract rabies is through bites from rabid dogs. That is what is seen most often. The same is true in Sri Lanka.

But not only dogs, but also other wild animals such as cats, monkeys, raccoons, foxes, and bats can transmit the disease. In some countries (for example, America), animals such as raccoons and skunks are the main carriers, and it is said that there are more cases of infection from bats to humans. In those countries, because dogs are widely vaccinated, the incidence of infection from dogs to humans is low.

Important: Small rodents such as rabbits, squirrels, and mice rarely transmit rabies. So if you are bitten by one of these animals, there is no need to be unduly concerned, but it is wise to seek medical advice.

In our country, dogs and cats are the main animals that need attention. Therefore, it is very important to give your pet dog or cat the rabies vaccine on time.

Is rabies contagious from person to person?

This is also a question that many people ask. Rabies is not directly transmitted from one person to another. That is, it is not a disease that is spread by touching or talking, like a cold.

This virus is mainly transmitted when an animal with rabies bites us. However, even if we don't get bitten, the disease can be transmitted if the animal's saliva directly gets into our eyes, nose, or mouth, or if it lands on a scratch or open wound on the skin. That's why it's said that we should be very careful when dealing with an animal suspected of having rabies.

How to recognize rabies?

One of the biggest challenges here is that there is no way to know for sure right away whether an animal has rabies or not, especially if it is a wild animal.

Therefore, if there is even the slightest suspicion that an animal may have rabies, doctors do not test for the disease and wait for the results. If they wait like that, it may be too late. Therefore , treatment is started as soon as there is suspicion.

Lab tests can be done to see if the disease has developed, but the results come only after the disease has progressed a bit. By then, it is too late to treat.

If the bitten animal can be captured, the animal's brain can be tested to see if the virus is present. However, the animal must be euthanized to perform the test.

However, if the bitten animal is a known, healthy pet (such as a dog or cat), doctors usually advise observing the animal closely for about 10 days. During that time, they will watch for signs of illness or unusual behavior.

As I said before, if it's a small animal that doesn't normally carry rabies, like a rabbit or squirrel, the doctor will talk to the local health authorities and decide what to do.

How is rabies treated?

This is something we all need to remember. Once the symptoms of rabies begin, that is, after the virus has reached the brain and started working, there is currently no effective treatment for it. That is why doctors always try to stop the disease before it develops, that is, as soon as the animal bites and feels that it has been `exposed` to the virus. Prevention is the only and best thing here.

If anyone thinks they may have been exposed to the rabies virus, whether it's an animal bite or a suspected animal's saliva coming into contact with a wound, they should seek immediate medical attention. It's not a moment too late.

Doctors give two types of vaccines as soon as possible:

1. Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG): This is used to provide immediate protection until the other vaccines start working. It is like a ready-made bodyguard. It is usually given around the wound where the animal has bitten.

2. Rabies Vaccine: This is the vaccine that builds up the body's own immunity to fight rabies. It is given in several doses. These vaccines are usually given on days 0 (i.e. the day the first vaccine is given), days 3, days 7, and days 14. Sometimes, for those with a weakened immune system, an additional dose may be given at 28 days.

If this vaccine is taken on time, it can prevent rabies by 99.9%.

How can you prevent exposure to rabies?

They say, "Prevention is better than cure." The same is true when it comes to rabies. There are a few simple, yet very important things we can do to stay safe from this dangerous disease:

• Give your pets (dogs, cats) their rabies vaccinations on time. This is the most important thing. If your animal is safe, you, your family, and society are safe.
• Report stray animals to your local health authorities or animal control officers. They can vaccinate the animals or take other appropriate measures.
• Teach children well not to touch or feed dogs or cats they don't know on the street. Even if they seem affectionate, you never know when they will bite.
• Teach children to stay away from wild animals like bats, foxes, and skunks. While these animals are cute, they can carry diseases. It's best to let them live in their natural habitat and stay away from them.
• If an animal appears to be sick or is behaving abnormally (for example, chasing people around, acting agitated), do not approach it. Notify authorities immediately.

What else do I need to know?

Imagine that, unfortunately, one of your children or you has been bitten by an animal. If that happens, don't panic, but there are a few things you need to do very quickly.

What to do immediately if you are bitten by an animal:

• Wash the bite wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 10-15 minutes. This is very important. Both soap and water can remove the virus from the wound.
• After washing the wound, cover it with a clean bandage.
• Call your doctor immediately, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Anyone suspected of having rabies should be treated in a hospital.
• Call your local animal control department for help capturing the animal. It may be helpful to capture the animal and observe or test it for rabies.
• If the bite was caused by an animal belonging to someone you know, get all the details, such as the animal's vaccination status, owner's name, and address. This information is very important to the doctor.
• Notify your local Public Health Inspector (PHI), especially if the animal has not been vaccinated against rabies.

Be sure to see a doctor in cases like these:

• If your young child has come into contact with an animal that may have rabies (for example, if the animal licks or bites you), but your child doesn't know how to say it properly. Young children sometimes don't say that animals bite or bite.
• If your child has been bitten by a bat, even if they haven't been bitten. Bat scratches and bites are so small that they can sometimes go unnoticed. However, since bats can transmit rabies, it's wise to seek treatment if you have any concerns.
• If you are planning a trip to a remote area, especially one with wildlife and poor medical facilities, talk to a doctor about a rabies pre-exposure vaccine.

If these things are followed properly, we will be greatly helped to protect ourselves from the dangerous condition called rabies.

Finally, what to remember

So, this rabies we talked about today is a really serious, life-threatening disease. But,The most important thing is that this is a completely preventable disease.

If you are bitten by an animal, do not delay or panic, seek medical advice immediately. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. If you take the vaccinations on time, you will not have any problems.

Vaccinate your pets on time. Be careful when dealing with unknown animals. These simple things can save you and your loved ones from this dangerous disease. Stay healthy and happy!

` Rabies, Animal bites, Dog bites, Rabies vaccination, Viral diseases, Neurological diseases, Prevention