Rabies Essay, Research Paper

Rabies

Rabies is

a infection transmitted to humans and certain other mammals by the saliva of an infected animal. Infection is through a bite or by skin or mucous membrane contact with infected saliva.

The period of the disorder can be as short as ten days or as long as one year; the usual time is one to two months. A victim who is vaccinated shortly after the animal bite will be protected against rabies. If a victim is not vaccinated, death usually occurs within a week of the onset of symptoms.

Animals that mainly carry Rabies are skunks, raccoons, bats, foxes, cats, cattle, and dogs. Most cases of rabies in humans are caused by bites from dogs while outside the United States. In almost 25 per cent of human rabies cases, the source of the infection is unknown. The dog is a relatively rare source of the disease, in large part because of the enforcement of animal control ordinances.

The animal, even if a wild animal, behaves abnormally, often without fear of humans. Usually, it is extremely agitated and vicious, but this behavior is followed by gradual paralysis, that makes the animal move slowly. Infected animals may be active during daylight. These are ways to tell if an animal has rabies.

The first symptoms are fever, depression, and increasing restlessness that turns into uncontrollable excitement. There is agitation which painful spasms of the throat muscles occur, accompanied by excessive saliva, which flows down the chin. Drinking even a sip of water produces spasms to your necks muscles, followed by saliva flow the name hydrophobia (meaning “fear of water”). If rabies is not treated promptly, death, from a combination of asphyxia, and exhaustion, usually occurs within a week. These are all symptoms of rabies.

No real treatment or cure for rabies exists once symptoms begin to appear. Even with aggressive medical care and mechanical artificial respiration, only three people have ever been known to survive rabies. though, the best treatment is careful medical attention after a person is bitten by an wild animal.If rabies is in an animal that has bitten a person, an attempt should be made to capture the animal as soon as possible. If bitten there’s a 28 day process for immuning your body. These are the ways to treat being attacked by an animal with rabies.

How is Rabies Spread?

Rabies virus enters the body through a cut or scratch or through mucous membranes(such as the lining of the mouth and eyes). From there it travels to the central nervous system. Once the infection is

established in the brain, the virus travels down the nerves from the brain and multiplies in many different organs.

What To Do If Your Child Has a Dog or Cat Bite or Scratch or Other Possible Rabies Exposure:

1. Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.

2. Call your doctor for advice. Recommendations will vary including the frequency of animal rabies in the region where you live.

a. What type of animal was involved (domestic pet or wild animal)?

b. Was the attack provoked (was the child playing with or teasing the animal or unprovoked)?

c. What type of exposure was there (cut, scratch, licking of an open wound), on what part of the body did the exposure occur (face, hand, etc.), was there one or multiple exposures?

d. Has the animal been immunized against rabies (does not apply to wild animals)? The date of the most current vaccine The date of the most current vaccine is more helpful than simple saying it’s up to date”.

e. Is the animal sick or well? If the animal is “sick”, what symptoms does it have?