Rabies in humans - causes, symptoms and treatment The cause of the disease is a virus that is neurotropic, ie. it is localized and multiplies in the cells of the brain and spinal cord, where it forms specific Babes-Negri bodies. The virus is also found in the salivary glands and is excreted through saliva. Rabies (Latin: Rabies, Lyssa) is an acute infectious disease that affects mammals and humans. How does rabies occur? The time from infection to the onset of the first signs of the disease is referred to as the incubation period, which can last from a few weeks to a year, but is most often 1 to 3 months. The initial symptoms of rabies in humans are an increase in general anxiety, headache, swallowing disorders, aversion to fluids and the development of depressed mood. At a later stage to the symptoms of the developed disease picture of rabies there is a sharp increase in reflex reactivity, which leads to severe spasms when swallowing. Patients are so sensitive that mentioning the word water or the sound of water droplets can cause severe swallowing spasms. Such a clinical picture always points to an accurate diagnosis. In the final stage of the disease, severe nerve damage occurs - encephalitis / inflammation of the brain /, occurring with strong agitation, paresis and paralysis, accompanied by severe respiratory and cardiovascular failure. Without treatment and with late treatment, rabies ends in painful death. Prevention and treatment of rabies in humans Prevention of rabies begins with the primary treatment of the wound: • Washing the wound with water and soap, followed by copious washing with water; initial treatment of the wound with alcohol and iodine; • Immediate seeking medical help; • Referral of the injured person immediately for examination and consultation by an infectious disease specialist in the nearest office for anti-rabies immunization. The immunization schedule is determined only by the doctor to whom it is assigned. • Careful surgical treatment of the wound, without suturing in the first few hours to 3 days, except for special indications, such as life-threatening bleeding and the surgeon's judgment. • All patients with severe bite wounds are subject to hospital treatment! • Prophylactic immunization against tetanus is also given to all persons bitten or scratched by animals, whether or not they are suspected of transmitting rabies to humans. Only for up to a day or two after an accident or animal bite, making rabies vaccine is effective. There is a special scheme for administering this vaccine. In general, the vaccine is given 3 times, but may be given 5 times, after the first injection on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days. I should not drink alcohol on the days of the vaccine. If no vaccine is given and we become infected with the rabies virus after a short time, the virus infects the spinal cord. This is followed by uncontrolled reproduction and spread of the virus throughout the body, associated with muscle pain, fever, as in acute disease. When the blood-brain barrier is overcome and the brain is reached, encephalitis, rabies, paralysis of the swallowing reflex, paralysis of breathing and death follow. This is the picture. The decision of what to do is yours, because your health is your responsibility. Visit an emergency center or infectious disease hospital for examinations, tests and whatever you need. With you, everything is in the hands of doctors and there is no alternative.
1 cleo_rae answered
Rabies in humans - causes, symptoms and treatment The cause of the disease is a virus that is neurotropic, ie. it is localized and multiplies in the cells of the brain and spinal cord, where it forms specific Babes-Negri bodies. The virus is also found in the salivary glands and is excreted through saliva. Rabies (Latin: Rabies, Lyssa) is an acute infectious disease that affects mammals and humans. How does rabies occur? The time from infection to the onset of the first signs of the disease is referred to as the incubation period, which can last from a few weeks to a year, but is most often 1 to 3 months. The initial symptoms of rabies in humans are an increase in general anxiety, headache, swallowing disorders, aversion to fluids and the development of depressed mood. At a later stage to the symptoms of the developed disease picture of rabies there is a sharp increase in reflex reactivity, which leads to severe spasms when swallowing. Patients are so sensitive that mentioning the word water or the sound of water droplets can cause severe swallowing spasms. Such a clinical picture always points to an accurate diagnosis. In the final stage of the disease, severe nerve damage occurs - encephalitis / inflammation of the brain /, occurring with strong agitation, paresis and paralysis, accompanied by severe respiratory and cardiovascular failure. Without treatment and with late treatment, rabies ends in painful death. Prevention and treatment of rabies in humans Prevention of rabies begins with the primary treatment of the wound: • Washing the wound with water and soap, followed by copious washing with water; initial treatment of the wound with alcohol and iodine; • Immediate seeking medical help; • Referral of the injured person immediately for examination and consultation by an infectious disease specialist in the nearest office for anti-rabies immunization. The immunization schedule is determined only by the doctor to whom it is assigned. • Careful surgical treatment of the wound, without suturing in the first few hours to 3 days, except for special indications, such as life-threatening bleeding and the surgeon's judgment. • All patients with severe bite wounds are subject to hospital treatment! • Prophylactic immunization against tetanus is also given to all persons bitten or scratched by animals, whether or not they are suspected of transmitting rabies to humans. Only for up to a day or two after an accident or animal bite, making rabies vaccine is effective. There is a special scheme for administering this vaccine. In general, the vaccine is given 3 times, but may be given 5 times, after the first injection on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days. I should not drink alcohol on the days of the vaccine. If no vaccine is given and we become infected with the rabies virus after a short time, the virus infects the spinal cord. This is followed by uncontrolled reproduction and spread of the virus throughout the body, associated with muscle pain, fever, as in acute disease. When the blood-brain barrier is overcome and the brain is reached, encephalitis, rabies, paralysis of the swallowing reflex, paralysis of breathing and death follow. This is the picture. The decision of what to do is yours, because your health is your responsibility. Visit an emergency center or infectious disease hospital for examinations, tests and whatever you need. With you, everything is in the hands of doctors and there is no alternative.