Rabies

Transmission mode

Rabies is transmitted mainly through the saliva of infected animals. The most common ways of transmission are:

1. Bites: The most frequent transmission occurs when an infected animal bites another animal or a person, the virus passes through muscle and nerve tissue.
2. Licking of wounds or mucous membranes: Although less common, rabies can also be transmitted if infected saliva comes into contact with an open wound or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth.
3. Scratches: In some cases, a scratch from an infected animal can cause transmission if the animal's saliva is present on the claw.

Disease cycle

After exposure to the virus, it travels through the peripheral nerves to the brain, where it multiplies rapidly, causing severe damage to the nervous system. This incubation period can vary from 1 to 3 months, but can be as short as a week or as long as a year, depending on factors such as the severity of the bite and proximity to the brain.

Symptoms

Rabies has two clinical forms:

1. Furious rabies: This is the most common form, characterised by hyperactivity, aggressive behaviour, hallucinations, and water phobia (hydrophobia) due to difficulty in swallowing.
2. Paralytic rabies: This accounts for about 20% of human cases, where the patient experiences a gradual paralysis, starting at the site of the bite and spreading to the rest of the body.

In both forms, once symptoms appear, the disease progresses rapidly to death, usually within days.

Prevention and treatment

1. Vaccination: Preventive vaccination in domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, is essential to control the spread of rabies. There are also human vaccines that can be administered before exposure (for people at high risk) or after possible exposure to the virus.
2. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP): If a person is bitten or exposed to the virus, it is crucial that they receive immediate treatment, which includes a series of rabies vaccine injections, and in some cases, rabies immune globulin. This treatment is highly effective if given before symptoms appear.
3. Animal control: Controlling the stray animal population and avoiding contact with wild animals are also key measures in rabies prevention.

In summary, although rabies is a fatal disease, it is preventable through vaccination and prompt treatment after exposure. Awareness and education about the disease are crucial to reduce the risk of infection.

Arriba Volver Atrás