Frequently asked questions about rabies

How long does it take for rabies to develop after being bitten by a dog or cat, how does the rabies virus develop in the body. are common questions.

Information is recommended to the community by the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health.

Rabies is a disease caused by an acute viral infection in the central nervous system, transmitted from animals to humans by secretions, usually saliva containing rabies virus. Once rabid, both animals and humans die 100%.

How does rabies develop in the human body?

After entering the human body, the rabies virus develops from the innermost layer of subcutaneous tissue, or from muscles, into peripheral nerves, that is, nerves in the human body located outside the brain or spinal cord.

The virus travels along nerves to the spinal cord and brain at an estimated rate of 12-24 mm per day.

Infected people have behavioral changes and clinical manifestations as the virus begins to penetrate the brain. The incubation period can range from a few days to a few months, and can be as long as a year or several years.

The incubation period can range from a few days to several months.

What factors influence the development of rabies?

Factors that may influence the development of rabies infection include:

1. Type of exposure.
2. Severity of the bite.
3. The amount of rabies virus entering the body.
4. Type of animal bite.
5. Patient's immune status.
6. Bite areas, head and neck injuries, as well as injuries to nerve ending areas such as fingers, generally have a shorter incubation period due to the closer distance for the virus to enter nerve tissue.

How to treat bites?

A person bitten by an animal should do the following:

1. Wash the wound with soap and continuously running water for about 10-15 minutes. If soap is not available, you can wash the wound with clean water under continuously running water for 15 minutes. This is the most effective first aid method against rabies.
2. The wound should be thoroughly cleaned with 70% alcohol or iodine alcohol.
3. Immediately take the patient to a medical facility for treatment as soon as possible.

What not to do about animal bites

1. Apply irritants to the wound such as paprika, juice or sap, acids or alkalis.
2. Bandage and apply medicine to cover the wound.

How long does it take for rabies to develop and how long can an infected animal live?

The incubation period can last from a few days to several months, while the time from illness to death ranges from one to 7 days.

Just monitor the animal that caused the bite for 10 days without treatment?

In countries where rabies is prevalent in dogs and cats, it is mandatory to treat and monitor the animal for 10 days.

If the animal remains healthy during the observation period, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be changed to pre-exposure prophylaxis for the bitten person. That means vaccination will prevent that person from getting rabies if bitten in the future.