Rabies

Name: Rabies Virus Genus: Lyssavirus Family: Rhabdovidae Transmitted: By other animals by saliva, most commonly through bites or scratches, most often by dogs or other wild animals. Type of Causitive Agent: Virus  //Dog with rabies //

Symptoms: Hypersalivation( drooling lot's of saliva/foaming at the mouth) Seizures Loss of muscle function Fever (low grade) Restlessness Swallowing difficulty due to loss of muscle function and fear of water Headaches ( inflammation of brain) Delirium Cerebral dysfunction, Anxiety, confusion, abnormal behavior, paranoia, terror, hallucinations Hydrophobia(fear of water

Treatment: Post exposure prophylaxis vaccine administed within ten days of infection.

Prevention:

Vaccination, not being around animals infected with disease

Life cycle:

Ranges from 10 days - 7 years. The average incubation period is 3 - 7 weeks. A human or warm blooded mammal gets bitten, licked or comes in contact with saliva of infected animal The human/animal contracts the virus Virus either kills the host or gets killed by vaccination/ treatment.

Likelihood of getting it In the US is very rare Only 27 cases have been reported by people in the United States since 1990 85% of Rabies is in wildlife. Bats are the most common animals responsible for the transmission of human rabies in the United States, accounting for more than half of human cases since 1980, and 74% since 1990. Rabid bats have been reported in all states except Hawaii. Around 55 000 people die of rabies in Africa and Asia every year and over half a million animals die as a result of rabies. Human rabies is common in children below the age of 15, with up to 30 - 50% of deaths occurring within that age group. Medical experts also say that with common challenges like poverty, poor health systems Definetly get vaccinated if you need to go to Nigeria

//Patient hospitalized with Rabies// //[]// //[]//