How does mad cow disease affect humans. What are the symptoms of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Can vCJD be transmitted through everyday contact. Is there a cure for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. When should you see a doctor for potential vCJD symptoms.

Understanding Mad Cow Disease and Its Human Variant

Mad cow disease, scientifically known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a progressive neurological disorder affecting cattle. While humans cannot contract BSE directly, they can develop a related condition called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). This rare and fatal degenerative disorder affects the brain and spinal cord, sharing similarities with BSE in its devastating effects on the nervous system.

The link between BSE and vCJD has been strongly established by scientific evidence. The primary mode of transmission to humans is through the consumption of food contaminated with brain or spinal cord tissue from infected cattle. This connection underscores the importance of stringent food safety measures and vigilant monitoring of the beef industry to prevent the spread of this deadly disease.

The Origin of Mad Cow Disease

The exact cause of BSE remains unclear, but most scientists believe it results from an abnormal change in specific proteins called prions within the brain and nervous tissue of cattle. These prions can cause a cascade of protein misfolding, leading to the characteristic brain damage observed in both BSE and vCJD.

Types of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

It’s crucial to understand that vCJD is just one type of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Other forms include:

• Hereditary CJD: Linked to family history or genetic mutations
• Acquired CJD: Transmitted through exposure to infected brain or nerve tissue, often during medical procedures
• Sporadic CJD: Occurs without known risk factors

These forms typically appear later in life, around age 60, and progress rapidly, with about 70% of patients dying within one year. In contrast, vCJD tends to affect younger individuals and has a longer disease course.

Transmission and Risk Factors of vCJD

Understanding the transmission of vCJD is crucial for prevention and public health measures. Unlike many infectious diseases, vCJD is not easily transmissible through common routes of infection.

How is vCJD Transmitted?

The primary mode of transmission for vCJD is through the consumption of contaminated beef products, particularly those containing nervous system tissue from infected cattle. It’s important to note that vCJD cannot be transmitted through:

• Everyday contact with infected individuals
• Breathable vapors
• Bodily fluids
• Sexual contact
• Drinking milk or consuming dairy products

This limited transmission pathway has helped contain the spread of vCJD, but it also highlights the importance of food safety regulations in the beef industry.

Incubation Period and Disease Onset

One of the challenging aspects of vCJD is its long incubation period. After consuming contaminated food, it may take years for noticeable symptoms to appear. This extended latency period complicates efforts to trace the origin of infections and implement preventive measures.

Recognizing the Symptoms of vCJD

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a progressive disorder that affects multiple aspects of neurological function. As the disease advances, it causes increasing damage to brain tissue, leading to a wide range of symptoms.

Early Signs and Symptoms

The initial symptoms of vCJD can be subtle and may include:

• Psychiatric problems
• Mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory lapses

Progressive Symptoms

As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms may develop:

• Psychotic episodes
• Nerve issues (e.g., stinging, burning, or electric shock sensations in extremities and face)
• Muscle jerks and twitches
• Poor coordination
• Visual disturbances
• Dementia
• Difficulty moving parts of the body
• Inability to walk
• Coma in advanced stages

The progression of these symptoms can vary among individuals, but the disease invariably leads to severe neurological impairment and, ultimately, death.

Diagnosis and Treatment Challenges for vCJD

Diagnosing vCJD presents significant challenges due to its rarity and the similarity of its symptoms to other neurological conditions. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for providing appropriate care and support to affected individuals.

Diagnostic Procedures

Diagnosing vCJD typically involves a combination of clinical evaluation, neurological tests, and specialized diagnostic procedures, which may include:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure brain activity
• Cerebrospinal fluid analysis
• Genetic testing to rule out hereditary forms of CJD

In some cases, a definitive diagnosis may only be possible through brain biopsy or post-mortem examination.

Current Treatment Approaches

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for vCJD. Treatment focuses on supportive care and symptom management to improve the quality of life for affected individuals. This may include:

• Provision of walking devices and other assistive equipment
• Pain management medications
• Psychiatric support for mood and behavioral symptoms
• Nutritional support
• Physical therapy to maintain mobility as long as possible

Research into potential treatments for vCJD is ongoing, but the complex nature of prion diseases makes developing effective therapies challenging.

Prevention Strategies and Public Health Measures

Preventing the spread of vCJD relies heavily on controlling the incidence of BSE in cattle and implementing strict food safety measures. Various countries have adopted comprehensive strategies to minimize the risk of BSE transmission to humans.

Cattle Industry Regulations

Key preventive measures in the cattle industry include:

• Banning the use of ruminant-derived proteins in cattle feed
• Implementing rigorous testing protocols for cattle
• Removing specified risk materials (SRMs) such as brain and spinal cord from the food chain
• Enhancing surveillance systems for detecting BSE in cattle

Food Safety Measures

To protect consumers, food safety authorities have implemented various measures:

• Strict regulations on the slaughter and processing of cattle
• Prohibiting the use of mechanically separated meat from ruminants
• Implementing traceability systems for beef products
• Educating consumers about safe beef consumption practices

These combined efforts have significantly reduced the incidence of BSE in cattle and, consequently, the risk of vCJD in humans.

Global Impact and Surveillance of vCJD

The emergence of vCJD has had far-reaching consequences on public health, international trade, and the global beef industry. Monitoring the prevalence and spread of vCJD is crucial for understanding the effectiveness of preventive measures and identifying potential new cases.

Global Incidence of vCJD

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease remains extremely rare worldwide. According to the FDA, by 2019, there had been 232 reported cases of vCJD globally. The majority of these cases occurred in the United Kingdom, where the BSE epidemic in cattle was most severe in the 1980s and 1990s.

International Surveillance Efforts

Many countries have established surveillance systems to monitor for cases of vCJD and other forms of CJD. These efforts typically involve:

• Mandatory reporting of suspected CJD cases
• Collaboration between neurologists, pathologists, and public health officials
• Genetic analysis to identify potential risk factors
• International data sharing to track global trends

These surveillance systems play a crucial role in early detection and response to potential outbreaks of vCJD.

Future Outlook and Research Directions

While significant progress has been made in understanding and controlling vCJD, many questions remain unanswered. Ongoing research aims to address these gaps in knowledge and develop more effective strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Emerging Research Areas

Current and future research directions in the field of vCJD and prion diseases include:

• Developing more sensitive and specific diagnostic tests
• Investigating potential therapeutic approaches, including anti-prion compounds
• Exploring the potential for gene therapy in hereditary forms of CJD
• Studying the mechanisms of prion replication and spread in the brain
• Investigating potential environmental factors that may influence prion disease susceptibility

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the rarity of vCJD, its devastating nature and potential for future outbreaks underscore the importance of continued vigilance and research. Challenges in studying vCJD include:

• The long incubation period, which complicates epidemiological studies
• The difficulty in developing animal models that accurately reflect human disease
• Ethical considerations in conducting clinical trials for such a rare and fatal condition

However, advances in molecular biology, neuroimaging, and computational modeling offer new opportunities for understanding and potentially treating prion diseases like vCJD.

When to Seek Medical Attention

Given the rarity of vCJD, it’s important to maintain perspective when considering potential symptoms. Most neurological symptoms are likely to be caused by more common conditions. However, early detection and diagnosis of any neurological disorder can be crucial for effective management.

Warning Signs That Warrant Medical Evaluation

Individuals should consider seeking medical attention if they experience:

• Persistent and unexplained neurological symptoms, such as tingling or burning sensations in limbs
• Progressive cognitive decline or memory problems
• Sudden changes in personality or behavior
• Unexplained and persistent balance or coordination issues
• Visual disturbances that cannot be explained by common eye problems

While these symptoms are more likely to be caused by other conditions, a thorough medical evaluation can help rule out serious disorders and provide appropriate care.

What to Expect During a Medical Evaluation

If concerned about potential neurological symptoms, individuals can expect the following during a medical evaluation:

1. A detailed medical history, including any potential exposure to risk factors
2. A comprehensive neurological examination
3. Cognitive and psychiatric assessments
4. Possible referral to a neurologist for specialized testing
5. Additional diagnostic procedures as deemed necessary by the healthcare provider

It’s important to provide healthcare professionals with a complete and accurate medical history, including any travel to countries with known BSE outbreaks or consumption of beef products from these regions.

In conclusion, while variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease remains a rare and devastating condition, ongoing research and vigilant public health measures continue to advance our understanding and management of this complex disorder. By maintaining awareness, supporting scientific research, and implementing effective prevention strategies, we can work towards minimizing the impact of vCJD and related prion diseases on global health.

Transmission, prevention, symptoms, and more

Humans cannot get mad cow disease, but they can get a variant of the disease if they eat food contaminated with the diseased tissue of sick cattle.

Mad cow disease is the common name for a disease affecting cattle that slowly destroys the brain and spinal cord.

The human form, called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), is a rare and fatal degenerative disorder that destroys the brain and spinal cord over time.

Keep reading to learn more about mad cow disease in humans, including the transmission and symptoms, as well as when to see a doctor.

Humans cannot get the same form of mad cow disease as cattle.

Mad cow disease, known medically as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a progressive neurological disorder in cattle. The disease gets worse over time, slowly eating away at the brain and spinal cord.

The exact cause is still unclear, though according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most scientists believe that BSE results from an abnormal change in specific proteins called prions within the brain and nervous tissue of cattle.

Cattle get the disease by eating animal feed that includes the remains of infected cattle. Humans cannot get this form of the disease. However, people can get a human variant of the disease, called vCJD.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that there is strong evidence to link vCJD and mad cow disease. The evidence suggests that similar to BSE in cows, vCJD comes from eating food contaminated with the brain or spinal cord tissue of sick cattle.

Other possible causes are outliers, such as a 2020 case featuring in the New England Journal of Medicine of a technician who contracted the disease after cutting their thumb while handling diseased brain tissue.

vCJD is just one type of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Other forms of the disease may occur that have no connection to mad cow disease.

The three other types of CVD are:

• Hereditary CJD: This type occurs in people who have a family history of the disease or a genetic mutation associated with CJD.
• Acquired CJD: The acquired form transmits via exposure to brain or nerve tissue, generally during medical procedures.
• Sporadic CJD: This type appears when a person has no known risk factors.

These forms of CJD usually appear later in life and have a very fast disease course. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) note that the onset of symptoms typically occurs around the age of 60 years and that about 70% of people die within 1 year.

vCJD follows a specific pattern that these other forms do not. The onset of the variant form of the disease tends to occur at a younger age, with the symptoms lasting longer than those of other forms of CJD.

The FDA note that neither BSE in cows nor vCJD in humans is commonly contagious. It is not possible for vCJD to transmit to others through everyday forms of contact, such as through breathable vapors, bodily fluids, or sexual contact.

Additionally, people cannot get the disease from drinking milk or eating dairy products. The only common way for both humans and cows to contract the disease is to eat food containing contaminated tissue from cows that have the disease.

The disease also has an incubation period, so the person is unlikely to feel sick immediately after consuming the contaminated food. It may take years for the disease to cause noticeable symptoms.

vCJD is a degenerative disease, meaning that it gets worse over time. The disease damages brain tissue, leading to symptoms such as:

• psychiatric problems
• psychotic episodes
• nerve issues, such as stinging, burning, or electric shock sensations in the extremities and face
• muscle jerks
• poor coordination
• problems with vision
• dementia
• difficulty moving parts of the body
• inability to walk
• coma

vCJD is a fatal condition. As the disease affects more and more brain tissue, the symptoms will get worse over time before the person dies. According to the FDA, of the 232 people who had contracted vCJD worldwide by 2019, none survived.

There is no known cure for vCJD. Instead, treatment focuses on supporting the person and easing other symptoms they may feel as the disease progresses. For example, doctors may provide walking devices, drugs to ease pain, or other supportive care for the person.

vCJD is extremely rare. The NINDS note that about 1 in 1 million people receive a diagnosis of any form of CJD each year, and vCJD is even more rare.

In most cases, another underlying condition is likely causing similar symptoms. However, it is still important to speak with a doctor as soon as possible.

Anyone experiencing troubling symptoms, such as tingling or stinging sensations in their arms, legs, or face, should see a doctor. Many nerve-related conditions could cause these symptoms, and a prompt diagnosis may help give the person a better outlook.

Government agencies, such as the FDA and CDC, have taken steps in recent years to help prevent all forms of mad cow disease. The FDA note that since 1997, there has been a ban on feeding most parts of cows and other animals to cattle to help reduce the risk of BSE spreading. Additionally, it is no longer permitted to use high risk parts of the cow’s body to make other animal feed, such as dog or cat food.

These regulations help ensure that any food that a person comes into contact with is free from the abnormal proteins that may cause the disease.

The CDC also work with state health departments to monitor and test for abnormal proteins in dead cows and investigate reports from healthcare personnel if they suspect a case of vCJD. This monitoring helps ensure that they identify and reduce the likelihood of outbreaks.

Mad cow disease occurs when cattle consume damaged proteins in the brain or spinal tissue of other cattle in their feed.

A variant of this disease, called vCJD, may occur in humans who eat meat contaminated with proteins from the brain or spinal tissue of a sick cow.

Government programs and regulations have now banned the practices that could potentially allow contaminated proteins to enter the food supply in both humans and animals.

There is no known treatment for the equivalent of mad cow disease in humans. The disease progressively gets worse and is eventually fatal after several years.

Anyone noticing any of the symptoms of vCJD should see a doctor. Although various other issues may cause similar symptoms, a quick diagnosis is important in any case.

Transmission, prevention, symptoms, and more

Humans cannot get mad cow disease, but they can get a variant of the disease if they eat food contaminated with the diseased tissue of sick cattle.

Mad cow disease is the common name for a disease affecting cattle that slowly destroys the brain and spinal cord.

The human form, called variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), is a rare and fatal degenerative disorder that destroys the brain and spinal cord over time.

Keep reading to learn more about mad cow disease in humans, including the transmission and symptoms, as well as when to see a doctor.

Humans cannot get the same form of mad cow disease as cattle.

Mad cow disease, known medically as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is a progressive neurological disorder in cattle. The disease gets worse over time, slowly eating away at the brain and spinal cord.

The exact cause is still unclear, though according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most scientists believe that BSE results from an abnormal change in specific proteins called prions within the brain and nervous tissue of cattle.

Cattle get the disease by eating animal feed that includes the remains of infected cattle. Humans cannot get this form of the disease. However, people can get a human variant of the disease, called vCJD.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that there is strong evidence to link vCJD and mad cow disease. The evidence suggests that similar to BSE in cows, vCJD comes from eating food contaminated with the brain or spinal cord tissue of sick cattle.

Other possible causes are outliers, such as a 2020 case featuring in the New England Journal of Medicine of a technician who contracted the disease after cutting their thumb while handling diseased brain tissue.

vCJD is just one type of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Other forms of the disease may occur that have no connection to mad cow disease.

The three other types of CVD are:

• Hereditary CJD: This type occurs in people who have a family history of the disease or a genetic mutation associated with CJD.
• Acquired CJD: The acquired form transmits via exposure to brain or nerve tissue, generally during medical procedures.
• Sporadic CJD: This type appears when a person has no known risk factors.

These forms of CJD usually appear later in life and have a very fast disease course. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) note that the onset of symptoms typically occurs around the age of 60 years and that about 70% of people die within 1 year.

vCJD follows a specific pattern that these other forms do not. The onset of the variant form of the disease tends to occur at a younger age, with the symptoms lasting longer than those of other forms of CJD.

The FDA note that neither BSE in cows nor vCJD in humans is commonly contagious. It is not possible for vCJD to transmit to others through everyday forms of contact, such as through breathable vapors, bodily fluids, or sexual contact.

Additionally, people cannot get the disease from drinking milk or eating dairy products. The only common way for both humans and cows to contract the disease is to eat food containing contaminated tissue from cows that have the disease.

The disease also has an incubation period, so the person is unlikely to feel sick immediately after consuming the contaminated food. It may take years for the disease to cause noticeable symptoms.

vCJD is a degenerative disease, meaning that it gets worse over time. The disease damages brain tissue, leading to symptoms such as:

• psychiatric problems
• psychotic episodes
• nerve issues, such as stinging, burning, or electric shock sensations in the extremities and face
• muscle jerks
• poor coordination
• problems with vision
• dementia
• difficulty moving parts of the body
• inability to walk
• coma

vCJD is a fatal condition. As the disease affects more and more brain tissue, the symptoms will get worse over time before the person dies. According to the FDA, of the 232 people who had contracted vCJD worldwide by 2019, none survived.

There is no known cure for vCJD. Instead, treatment focuses on supporting the person and easing other symptoms they may feel as the disease progresses. For example, doctors may provide walking devices, drugs to ease pain, or other supportive care for the person.

vCJD is extremely rare. The NINDS note that about 1 in 1 million people receive a diagnosis of any form of CJD each year, and vCJD is even more rare.

In most cases, another underlying condition is likely causing similar symptoms. However, it is still important to speak with a doctor as soon as possible.

Anyone experiencing troubling symptoms, such as tingling or stinging sensations in their arms, legs, or face, should see a doctor. Many nerve-related conditions could cause these symptoms, and a prompt diagnosis may help give the person a better outlook.

Government agencies, such as the FDA and CDC, have taken steps in recent years to help prevent all forms of mad cow disease. The FDA note that since 1997, there has been a ban on feeding most parts of cows and other animals to cattle to help reduce the risk of BSE spreading. Additionally, it is no longer permitted to use high risk parts of the cow’s body to make other animal feed, such as dog or cat food.

These regulations help ensure that any food that a person comes into contact with is free from the abnormal proteins that may cause the disease.

The CDC also work with state health departments to monitor and test for abnormal proteins in dead cows and investigate reports from healthcare personnel if they suspect a case of vCJD. This monitoring helps ensure that they identify and reduce the likelihood of outbreaks.

Mad cow disease occurs when cattle consume damaged proteins in the brain or spinal tissue of other cattle in their feed.

A variant of this disease, called vCJD, may occur in humans who eat meat contaminated with proteins from the brain or spinal tissue of a sick cow.

Government programs and regulations have now banned the practices that could potentially allow contaminated proteins to enter the food supply in both humans and animals.

There is no known treatment for the equivalent of mad cow disease in humans. The disease progressively gets worse and is eventually fatal after several years.

Anyone noticing any of the symptoms of vCJD should see a doctor. Although various other issues may cause similar symptoms, a quick diagnosis is important in any case.

BSE

BSE (BSE) lesion of the central nervous system with 100% lethality.

Bovine BSE is caused by the pathological prion protein PrPSc, PrPBse or PrPres, which is resistant to physical and chemical factors, including exposure to formalins, alcohols, organic solvents, non-ionic and ionic detergents, heat, drying, ionizing, ultraviolet and microwave radiation.

The pathogen is transmitted through feed and feed additives containing meat and bone meal contaminated with the pathogen.

Sources of the pathogen are sick susceptible animals, including those in the incubation period. Under natural conditions, cattle are susceptible to BSE, especially at the age of 4 years. The factors of transmission of the infectious agent are the products of slaughter of sheep with scrapie, and cattle with EH.

The incubation period is from 2.5 to 8 years, in some cases it can be extended up to 25-30 years. The course of the disease is progressive, without remissions. The disease proceeds without an increase in body temperature of the animal, with continued appetite. Despite a normal appetite, cows have reduced milk production. The clinical manifestation of the disease is characterized by signs of damage to the central nervous system.

When BSE is suspected, suspected susceptible animals with clinical signs consistent with BSE should be exploratory slaughtered.

BSE does not produce either cellular or humoral immunity, so no vaccine has been developed in the world to date.

Treatment is ineffective, the prognosis for the disease is unfavorable.

Historical reference. BSE was first reported in the UK in 1985-1986 under the name “mad cow disease”. In the next 10 years, BSE spread to other countries – France, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Slovakia, Finland, etc.
To date, it has been established that BSE appeared as a result of exposure to cattle of scrapie (scrapie), a similar agent (pathogen of scrapie in sheep), found in meat and bone meal, which was included in the diet of cattle.
BSE caused enormous economic damage to European countries (only in the UK for 7 billion pounds): about 4 million heads of cattle were destroyed.

The basis of prevention for prosperous countries is: preventing the importation of pedigree livestock, meat, canned food, by-products and semi-finished products, meat and bone meal, semen, embryos, industrial fat, intestinal raw materials and other products and feeds of animal origin from disadvantaged areas or countries from ruminants; careful control over purchases of breeding stock and biological tissues, especially from disadvantaged countries; prohibition of feeding ruminants with meat-and-bone and bone meal from cattle and sheep.

Pet owners must comply with the following requirements:
– to identify all types of farm animals;
– not to allow the purchase of animals without veterinary accompanying documents;
– purchase animals only from prosperous farms;
– quarantine for 30 days imported animals for the necessary research and processing;
– all movements, delivery for slaughter, sale of livestock products should be carried out only under the control of the state veterinary service;
– during the pasture season, animals should be grazed in separate areas of pastures with isolated watering and grazing, separate for each animal species, and also excluding contact with wild animals;
– when caring for animals, use clean, disinfected overalls, systematically clean and disinfect premises for keeping small ruminants;
– if an animal disease is suspected and there are characteristic signs of BSE, it is necessary to immediately inform the nearest state veterinary institution about this.

In Russia, this disease is not registered, but given its wide distribution in the world, there is a real threat of bringing BSE to the territory of our country.

Inform the State Veterinary Service of St. Petersburg about all cases of animal disease, including suspected BSE: telephones: 527-50-43, 527-09-46, 717-52-10

Rabies in humans – what it is, features, prevention and treatment

Rabies is an infectious disease that develops as a result of infection with the Rabiesvirus virus. The disease is characterized by a rapid and severe course, as well as a high probability of death. The virus enters the human body after being bitten by an infected animal.

MedEx recommends vaccinating against rabies if you have pets living with you. This is the most effective measure for the prevention of a dangerous disease.

Routes of infection

The causative agent of rabies is contained in the saliva of infected animals, sometimes found in lacrimal fluid and urine. It is distributed mainly among homeless and wild animals that gather in flocks. Treatment of the disease is complicated by the fact that people often do not pay attention to contact with an aggressive animal and go to the doctor too late.

Animals carrying rabies are:

• dogs;
• cats;
• foxes;
• bats;
• hedgehogs;
• rats.

Less commonly, rabies is transmitted by bites from badgers, raccoons, wolves, birds, and fleas. Not only wild, but also domestic animals can carry the causative agent of the disease: they become infected while walking in open areas, parks, forest plantations and forests. Once infected, they can transmit the virus to humans.

A wild animal infected with rabies is difficult to recognize – aggressive behavior may be typical for it. With pets, the situation is easier. Once infected, they become secretive, hiding and avoiding people. As rabies progresses, external signs of aggression appear – in relation to a person or household items. Later, the animal falls into a coma and dies.

Symptoms of rabies in animals vary depending on the form of the disease:

• Quiet. The animal is not aggressive. There is increased salivation, which interferes with eating. The disease ends in coma and death.
• Rampant. The animal behaves aggressively. Later, convulsions begin, it dies.
• Atypical. It is characterized by blurred symptoms. Severe diarrhea is possible. Despite the outwardly mild course of the disease, the animal dies.

The incubation period for rabies in animals is 10 days. This means that a pet can be infected without showing any outward signs. Therefore, it is not worth focusing on his behavior.

The following routes of infection with rabies are distinguished:

• when bitten by an infected animal or when its saliva comes into contact with an injured area of ​​skin or mucous membranes;
• by inhalation of air containing particles of the saliva of an infected person;
• upon contact of unprotected skin with the corpses of animals that died of rabies, their biological materials;
• from mother to child during pregnancy.

There are no officially recorded cases of human-to-human transmission of rabies.

Symptoms

In humans, rabies is characterized by a long incubation period. It can be 1-3 months or more. During this period, a person will be infected, but the outwardly dangerous disease will not manifest itself in any way. Rabies symptoms usually become noticeable after a few weeks if the bite is localized to the face, arms or torso.

External signs of the disease depend on how much time has passed since the moment of infection. In this regard, in medicine, 3 stages, or periods of rabies, are distinguished.

First stage

The first sign of rabies is discomfort at the site of the bite, and the wound may already be healing by this time. They are expressed in discomfort, burning, sometimes suppuration and hyperemia. The bite site becomes swollen.

Other symptoms may be observed in the first stage of rabies:

• fever;
• apathy or overexcitation;
• inexplicable fear;
• loss of appetite;
• weight loss.

If the bite was on the face, auditory and auditory hallucinations occur. The person ceases to control himself, and the disease gradually progresses, passing into the second stage of rabies.

Second stage

In the second stage, the symptoms of rabies from the bite are aggravated. The patient develops hydrophobia – acute hydrophobia. He is so afraid of water that he cannot even drink it: an attempt to quench his thirst causes panic attacks, accompanied by respiratory disorders and spasms of the muscles of the larynx. Even the sound of running water can trigger a panic attack. The inability to quench your thirst leads to dehydration.

The second stage of rabies is characterized by increased sensitivity to any external stimuli. A person begins to be afraid of loud sounds, bright light, a breath of wind. The reaction to an irritant can be very different – riot, a manifestation of physical aggression.

Other symptoms characteristic of the second stage of a viral disease:

• dilated pupils;
• gaze directed at one point;
• increased sweating;
• heavy and irregular breathing;
• confusion;
• hallucinations.

In the second stage, during an attack, cardiac arrest may occur. It is the most common cause of death from rabies. Otherwise, the patient’s consciousness temporarily clears up.

Third stage

The third stage of rabies is the paralysis stage. For a short time, the patient’s condition improves: convulsions disappear, breathing becomes even, behavior calm. But this is a deceptive improvement.

After some time, the temperature of a patient infected with rabies rises to 40 degrees. He develops tachycardia, and then paralysis of all organs and systems. Death occurs as a result of paralysis of the heart or respiratory organs.

Diagnostics

After contact with a suspected infected animal, the wound should be treated. To do this, it should be washed with soapy water, despite severe pain, the edges should be disinfected with alcohol. Then you need to cause profuse bleeding from the wound: it is likely that this measure will help remove particles of the virus that has entered the bloodstream. To do this, you need to try to carefully cut the wound and squeeze the blood out of it.

After the measures taken, it is necessary to go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible: self-treatment for rabies is prohibited. If there is no way to treat the wound yourself, call an ambulance.

The physician should be given as much detail as possible about the incident:

• write a description of the infected animal;
• tell about the circumstances of the infection;
• describe the symptoms present.

This information will help your doctor make a preliminary risk assessment. If the bite was committed by a pet, it is taken for observation within a 10-day period. Sometimes they take salivary gland cells and infect laboratory mice with them: this allows you to accurately confirm or refute the presence of rabies. If rodents begin to develop paralysis, the diagnosis is confirmed.

After studying the history of the disease, the doctor prescribes laboratory tests. They allow you to determine the presence of antibodies in the blood, as well as antigens in biopsies of the skin and cornea. External manifestations of rabies can be confused with symptoms of encephalitis, tetanus, delirium tremens, so the patient may be assigned additional studies. Sometimes the diagnosis is established only posthumously, by analyzing the brain of the deceased.

Treatment

For a long time, the treatment of rabies meant alleviating the condition of the infected patient: therapy was aimed at reducing suffering before death. It was possible to save him only in one case – if a person asked for help before the first signs of the disease appeared. The situation has changed since 2005: now it is possible to help a person infected with the rabies virus, despite a serious deterioration in health.

However, the effectiveness of treatment largely depends on how quickly the person went to the doctor. The prognosis is getting worse every day. In the advanced stage of rabies, treatment is almost ineffective, so it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Therapy is based on compulsory vaccination. A patient infected with the rabies virus is injected into the blood with a special drug – immediately after contacting a doctor, and again on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th day. The World Health Organization also recommends vaccinating 3 months after a bite to minimize the chance of developing the disease.

Vaccine injection site selected according to age group:

• adults – in the deltoid muscle;
• children – through the thigh.

Rabies vaccine is needed not only after a bite from an animal infected with rabies, but also in other cases – when injured by an object that may contain particles of infected saliva. Contact with a sick animal without skin damage is not dangerous and does not require vaccination.

The treatment of rabies is effective if the vaccination is carried out within 2 weeks of infection. It is carried out on an outpatient basis: you do not need to go to the hospital. The exception is women during pregnancy. They should be regularly monitored by a doctor.

The treatment of rabies also includes symptomatic therapy. The patient is injected with drugs that suppress the development of convulsive syndrome – chlorpromazine, diphenhydramine, morphine. In a serious condition, he is placed in a ward, protected from harsh sounds, bright lights and any other factors that can provoke an attack.

Until the end of rabies therapy, the patient is prohibited from taking alcohol, visiting a bath and sauna, and undergoing excessive physical exertion. It is important to fully rest, get enough sleep, avoid overwork or chronic stress.

As an additional measure, no later than 24 hours after exposure to rabies, the patient may be given injections of immunoglobulin.

If the condition of a person infected with rabies is severe, he is put into a coma. This treatment, called the Milwaukee Protocol, was originally considered experimental. But he showed positive results and is now used in medical practice. The patient is injected into a coma with the help of special preparations, and then he is given injections of antiviral agents. After the rabies virus infection is eradicated, the person is brought back to consciousness. The method is not always applicable due to the high risk of death.

Prophylaxis

Rabies prevention is the most reliable way to reduce the risk of future infections. The human body is very difficult to tolerate this disease, and given the long incubation period, the likelihood of recovery is extremely low. The main measure of prevention is considered to be vaccination against rabies of all stray animals, but it is difficult for an ordinary person to influence its implementation.

Personal preventive measures:

• minimize contact with stray and wild animals, especially those showing aggression;
• do not buy animals “from hand”, without the appropriate documents;
• homeless animals picked up from the street should be immediately shown to the veterinarian;
• vaccinate pets;
• monitor the pet’s behavior, especially after contact with other animals;
• Seek medical attention after being bitten.