$Unique_ID{BRK02351}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{How and What Do You Do When You Get Rabies?}
$Subject{rabies bitten wildlife infected wild animals domesticated pets bite
saliva rabid froths mouth antiserum abdominal injections injection vaccine
infection infections central nervous system bites hydrophobia vaccination mad
dog vaccinations convulsions paralysis}
$Volume{A-1}
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Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


How and What Do You Do When You Get Rabies?


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QUESTION:  There have been two cases of rabies in our area alone and I think
you should address this serious health problem in your column.  How do you get
rabies, and what to do if bitten?

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ANSWER:  Thanks for your timely question since there is now a serious outbreak
of wildlife rabies in the U.S. and the public needs to be alerted to the
dangers of the disease.  Here are a few pointers:
     First, although most people get rabies from bites by infected wild
animals outdoors, you can also get the same disease from domesticated pets.
     Second, you can contract rabies not only from a bite, but also from the
saliva of an infected animal if it licks your mouth, eyes, or open wound.  And
your pets can get rabies just by being in the presence of a large number of
rabid animals, as in a bat cave.
     So, you should be wary of and avoid any contact with an animal, wild or
domesticated, that behaves strangely, especially if it froths at the mouth and
wildly attacks anything in sight.  The same goes for your family pets if they
begin to act strangely, and they should be inoculated regularly especially if
they are outdoors for long periods.
     If bitten or otherwise believe you may have contacted a rabid animal, see
your doctor immediately, even if you feel okay, as symptoms may not show up
for months or a year.  These include headache, fever, loss of appetite,
anxiety and tingling at the bite mark.  To wait until convulsions or paralysis
develops is too late as they signal the usually fatal end stage of the
disease.
     Treatment consists of a series of five injections of vaccine in the arm
and one antiserum injection; a big improvement on the painful series of 23
abdominal injections once used.
     Suspected wild rabid animals should be killed when available to verify
the disease, but family pets might sometimes be observed instead if rabies is
low in your area.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.