RABIES

• Rabies


  A specific, acute, viral infection communicated to man by saliva of an infected animal
• Other Terms


  Hydrophobia / Lyssa
• Etiologic Agent


  • Rhabdovirus (Bullet Shape Virus)
• Incubation Period


  3 to 8 weeks, but may be as short as 9 days or as long as 7 years, depending on the amount of virus introduced, the severity of the wound and its proximity to the brain
• Susceptibility and Resistance


  • All warm-blooded mammals are susceptible
• Clinical Manifestations


  1. Prodromal / Invasion Phase: Fever, Malaise, Irritability, Restlessness, Apprehensiveness, Melancholia, Sensitive to light and sound

  2. Excitement / Neurological Phase: Marked excitation and apprehension, Nuchal rigidity, Involuntary twitching, Severe and painful spasm of the muscles of the mouth, pharynx and larynx, Hydrophobia, Aerophobia, Profuse drooling of saliva

  3. Terminal / Paralytic Phase: Quiet and unconscious, Loss of bowel and urinary control, Cessation of spasms and progressive paralysis, Tachycardia; respiratory paralysis, heart failure
• Diagnostic Tests


  Virus isolation from the patient's saliva / throat, Fluorescent rabies antibody (RFA) - most definitive diagnosis, Presence of negri bodies in the dog's brain
• Treatment Modalities


  Wash with soap and water, Application of antiseptics such as povidone iodine may be done, Patients should not be bathed and there should not be any running water in the room, Concurrent and terminal disinfection should be carried
• Prevention and Control


  Vaccination of all dogs (immunized 3 months of age and every year thereafter), Confinement of any dog that has bitten a person for 10 to 14 days, Provide public education