Signs & Symptoms of Rabies After Getting Bitten by Dog
While dogs rarely carry the rabies virus due to modern vaccination requirements, infection with rabies from dog bites is still possible. Post-exposure medication is available, but the treatment's success rate is directly correlated with how soon after infection the vaccination regimen is begun. Do not wait for symptoms to appear, because by that time, the rabies virus has spread beyond current medical capabilities to cure the disease.
Fever, Headache and Fatigue
Some of the first symptoms of rabies exposure are almost indistinguishable from the flu. Most victims show the first signs of being unwell--often a high temperature, headaches, loss of appetite or extreme tiredness--within two weeks to three months of being infected.
Discomfort at Bite Area
About half of the people bitten by a rabid animal will experience pain, numbness, or itching at the site of their bite, often weeks after the wound should have healed completely.
Anxiety, Confusion or Hallucinations
One of the first signs that the disease has spread to the brain is the exhibition of uncharacteristic behavior, which can vary widely but generally begins around 10 days after the flu-like symptoms first appear. Victims may experience severe depression or anxiety, impaired cognitive ability and confusion, hallucinations or insomnia.
Complete or Partial Paralysis
The ultimate cause of death in rabies victims is usually respiratory or heart failure resulting from paralysis. As the disease spreads throughout the body, the afflicted may become unable to move one or more of their extremities, or feel extremely weak. Eventually, the rabies virus will paralyze the core organs required to keep a human alive.
Hypersalivation and Hydrophobia
With paralysis comes the inability to swallow properly, resulting in the overproduction of saliva, and the loss of the ability to speak. A characteristic sign of end-stage rabies, hydrophobia, is often seen at this point. The infected person may demand water to quench her thirst, then panic or choke while trying to drink it.
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