What are Symptoms of Rabies in Humans?
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The symptoms of rabies in humans include irritability, headache, pain, itching or a twitching at the infection site, and fever. As the disease progresses, muscle spasms in the throat and respiratory tract affect breathing, and the sufferer may have difficulty swallowing, the combination of which can produce the trademark “foaming at the mouth”. Further symptoms of rabies as it progresses are hallucinations, convulsions, seizures, paralysis, and eventually death.
Rabies is a viral infection that attacks the central nervous system in warm-blooded animals. The rabies virus can be transmitted to humans when an infected animal’s saliva comes into contact with broken skin, such as with a bite or scratch. Rabies has been a noted disease for thousands of years, but is rare in advanced civilizations today. In the United States, there have been only a few dozen cases of humans infected with rabies since 1990.
Wild animals most commonly found to carry rabies in the United States are raccoons, followed by bats, skunks, and foxes. An estimated 85% of animal rabies cases in the US are attributed to wildlife. In domestic animals and livestock, cats are the most commonly infected animals, though dogs tend to be responsible for more bites. However, bats are responsible for well over half of the cases of rabies transmitted to humans in the US.
Rabies is a very serious viral infection, and once the symptoms of rabies have developed, the disease is fatal. However, it is a completely preventable disease if proper medical attention is sought for any circumstance that is suspect. If a person has been bitten by either a wild animal or a domestic animal without proof of vaccination, he or she should cleanse the bite with soap and water immediately and then seek medical attention.
The incubation period for rabies varies greatly, and signs or symptoms may develop within a week or may take months. It is important to understand that once the symptoms of rabies have developed, there is no treatment or cure. Suspect rabies cases and bite victims can be given preventative treatment if it is administered before the first sign or symptom.
If you see an animal acting strangely or confused, or if you see a nocturnal animal, especially a bat or fox, out during the day, call your local wildlife division. Do not attempt to approach or capture the animal; simply report it to the proper authorities.
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Discuss this Article35
Can a chipmunk give you rabies? I was not bitten by one but I moved a dead one that was bleeding out of my yard and then forgot to wash my hands before getting a drink. I'd just like to know if theres a chance I could get rabies from a chipmunks blood or not, I also do not know if it was showing signs of having rabies as it was dead when I found it.
Thanks - anon35113
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Reading some of the posts someone mentioned rabbits. I don't know about the rabies but I once found 2 baby rabbits which were covered with huge ticks. I was a child at the time and took them to my mom to get her to help me get the ticks off. She did & I released the rabbits near a creek. Later she got very sick but doctors could not figure out what was wrong at 1st. I did not get sick but I did not remove the ticks. My mom did. Later one of the tests showed something they called "rabbit fever". They asked her if she had handled any wild rabbits & she told them about the rabbits she removed the ticks from. Bingo! They then knew what to do for her but she made me promise to *never* catch or bring any more wild animals especially rabbits to her again. LOL! - sosoftail
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What about wild rats? Can they carry rabies? They recently burned the field behind me and I have been over run with snakes & rats. I have a friend that raises exotic snakes so she will come catch the snakes & we recently set traps for the rats to catch them alive for snake food. They are quite aggressive & throw themselves at you screeching & biting though the cage keeps them from you. I even worried for her snakes but she lets them wear themselves down so it takes most of the fight out of them. Sounds cruel but they would be killed anyway & faster than poison which I object to. Just wondered if they can carry rabies? Thanks. - sosoftail
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A goat? A goose?? Try calling your health department, wildlife management or your doctor!What are the symptoms if a monkey or raccoon bites you?? Probably pain! The symptoms of rabies are pretty clearly stated in the above article. If you were bitten by a dog, and the dog had rabies but you are showing *no* signs of rabies, the shot treatment would not be useless. If the dog had active rabies, it would have died. Did the dog die? If not, it didn't have rabies. It's really not that long of an article people, try *reading* it! - goldenhair2
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In response to most of these that you should always seek medical help if you are bitten by a wild animal or even a domestic animal that you do not know. Since rabies is in the saliva, if your baby has stuck it's fingers in the mouth of an animal, wash it immediately since babies usually put their hands in their mouths. You should call the child's pediatrician. - anon34441
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Just a few days ago, me and my sister found some baby skunks, and we were taking care of them because their mother was hit by a car. One of them had died today so my sister thought they might be affected by rabies. There was one feisty one, and it kept going after me when i was trying to feed it, and it bit me twice only drawing blood once, but breaking the skin both times. should i be worried about rabies? Should i go get it checked out or something? please reply. - billijo
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I was bitten by my aunts baby goat yesterday, i was bleeding a little bit, i'm scared! please reply. - anon34259
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Two days ago my son played with puppy & his finger passed out from its mouth & there was no significant signs of puppy's teeth. I'm worried that did he get infection? Will he need vaccine or not? Pls tell me. - anon32124
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If a monkey or raccoon were to bite you, the typical symptom would be bleeding. Now say, if a rabid monkey were to bite you, the symptoms would be the symptoms listed in the article above, (irritability, headache, pain, itching or a twitching at the infection site, and fever). If you are experiencing any of these symptoms the best possible action would be to seek professional help. - anon31879
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if your puppy licked your thumb and afterward you licked your thumb, can you be infected by rabies? the puppy is not yet vaccinated by anti-rabies. - anon31273
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I live in the mountains. Should I be concerned about the raccoons coming near me when I feed them? - anon30452
22
My girlfriend was attacked by a goose and scratched quite a bit. I don't know if she was bitten or not though. Is she at risk?She doesn't see the serious side to it and just finds it funny even though her entire arm is all scratched up and bruised up. She has even been offered free medical care by her workplace where it happened and she refuses to go. What can I do? - anon30209
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I tried to rescue a pit bull with 4 puppies apparently mixed with some sort of shepherd. They were already about 1/3 the size of the mother and all seemed in poor health and emaciated. I caught the mom and 2 pups that went to the shelter. 1 pup got hit by a vehicle before I could intervene and is still alive but in bad shape at my vet. The last pup I made a grab for and it bit me. They tell me I may have to take the shots but rabies in pups is rare. That pup got away and I have set a trap for it but so far it has not returned. I plan to go door to door if necessary to try and find it. What are my odds and should I not take the shots?Oh yeah I have fibromyalgia so muscular problems may not be noticed since I have those anyway. This bite happened Saturday. There was a lot of burning at the wound but because of my still trying to watch for and catch the pup I did not even wash the site for a number of hours. I know signs don't present this quick but the stress probably caused diarrhea today and I have had faintness and a headache. Fibromyalgia has a multitude of problems anyway. Thanks. CC - sosoftail
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Last night I heard a noise in my attic that sounded like a small animal, so I went up to investigate. I went up with a strong flashlight and ended up coming across a very large rat. I assume it was a rat and not a mouse because it had to weigh at least a pound. Unlike anything I have ever seen it dove at me and bit the side of my neck drawing blood (only my head was sticking up through the crawl space). The rat continued to come after me and I beat it with the flash light killing it. Should I be concerned about the bite on my neck? I've never seen an aggressive rat like this before. I have yet to dispose of the rat, its body is still up there and could be retrieved for testing if recommended. - anon29859
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Is difficulty breathing a symptom of rabies? but there was no other symptoms...the breathing is not so difficult...every so often i just have 2 take a deeper breath. - kate27peace
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Does a human have the same reaction to rabies as animals do, i.e. rage and attacking? - littlebit06c
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Well I wasn't worried about having rabies...I know about the 10 day quarantine...which is why the fact that she's had it for so long tells me it's fine...and I was bit by a raccoon...not a dog... - anon27980
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Hello,For the two posters that asked should they be worried? Well worrying is not healthy for you nor does it solve the problem. Find the facts, which are relatively simple. If you get bit an animal has to be on quarantine for 10 days from the bite. Doesn't mean anything. The thing is to watch your dog and after the 10 days are over if he/she seems normal, there is no need for concern. On the other hand if the dog that bit you dies, then they have to test the brain, which is done simple and quick. If the animal proves negative you do nothing. If it proves positive, then you have to go to your health department Immediately and start the series of post exposure rabies vac. Good luck, but don't make yourself sick worrying as it doesn't change anything, just pray..... that works. - anon27813
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A friend of mine has a pet raccoon and yesterday it was out playing and got into the garage. I was helping them try to get it down so it wouldn't mess up anything and I was bit a few times on the arm. She's had it for over a year, bottle raised it, and worked for animal control and humane society for years in our area *so she clearly knows what cases of rabies looks like*. I have no concern about it having the virus because of the circumstances, and I have handled it several times before and there have been no previous signs of aggression. It simply just likes to play and wasn't ready to be put up. However, my fiance was also bit on the thumb and his mother believes all raccoons carry rabies and is terrified that we're both going to die. It is illegal to keep a raccoon for a pet in the state I live in, which is a larger one, so I cannot just go to a vet or they would quarantine the animal and my friend would be fined. I did research previous cases of rabies and in one year there were less than 100 for my state. I would just like to reassure them both that everything is fine. Thanks. - AMurders429
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i was bitten by a dog in southern thailand 24hours ago - the bite was not majorly significant - the top layer of skin was barely torn and there was no bleeding. i had my rabies jab before coming away? am i safe from infection? - anon26916
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Can rabbits give you rabies? There is a wild rabbit in our neighbor's back yard and the kids over there are taking care of it. should i tell them to take it to a vet or stop or something? i really don't want those precious kids get rabies. - anon26395
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a dog bit me last monday and after 4-5 hours i have been vaccinated..i had my 2nd vaccination for the anti rabies yesterday which was thursday or the third day..and then i'll have another on monday..am i safe now? i'm scared to death every time i'm going to sleep cause i might not wake up thanks - anon25094
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can you get rabies from rats or mice? - anon24921
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i was scratched by a rat in our barn two months ago, i contacted my doctor and they had me contact the board of health, they informed me it was nothing to worry about and i was just to be sure i cleaned the area. But i have worried and can not get it out of my mind. Were they correct in telling me not to worry and should i worry. i have looked on the internet for information but now every time i have an ache or pain I panic. i know if I say anything to my husband or family they are going to tell me i am crazy. i really need something to help me to stop worrying i am driving myself nuts. Now i keep thinking the area where i was scratched is hurting, i is all healed and looks fine. Should i be worried? Thank you for any information you can give me. Carol - anon24912
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did either one of u read the article? to the first post- it clearly says that once symptoms have developed there is no treatment and im pretty sure since you're still typing, you're not showing symptoms which means u can get treated. as to the second post- rabies is rabies...im pretty sure it doesnt matter what kind of animal it comes from...and how do you mix up a raccoon and a monkey? - anon19708
2
While working in the mountains in Cambodia I was accidentally bitten by a dog of the village. The fact that it was rainy season meant I was blocked there for 2 weeks without being able to get treatment. The dog had been fighting with another dog so the bite was not aggressive in my regards and for the rest of the time that I saw him he was not at all aggressive..actually quite fond of me and stayed by side at all times. I did notice though that it had some sort of illness as it look always tired and one side of its mouth was obviously thick of saliva and sand. Even the owners admitted that it was sick.From what I understand even if I get a shot now it would be useless...my question is how long do I need worry about a possible infection?? - anon17251
1
My question is what are the symptoms if a monkey or raccoon bites u? - anon6325
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