Symptoms of animal bites: Animal Bite: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Animal Bite: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Animal Bite: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- Health Conditions
- Featured
- Breast Cancer
- IBD
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Articles
- Acid Reflux
- ADHD
- Allergies
- Alzheimer’s & Dementia
- Bipolar Disorder
- Cancer
- Crohn’s Disease
- Chronic Pain
- Cold & Flu
- COPD
- Depression
- Fibromyalgia
- Heart Disease
- High Cholesterol
- HIV
- Hypertension
- IPF
- Osteoarthritis
- Psoriasis
- Skin Disorders and Care
- STDs
- Featured
- Discover
- Wellness Topics
- Nutrition
- Fitness
- Skin Care
- Sexual Health
- Women’s Health
- Mental Well-Being
- Sleep
- Product Reviews
- Vitamins & Supplements
- Sleep
- Mental Health
- Nutrition
- At-Home Testing
- CBD
- Men’s Health
- Original Series
- Fresh Food Fast
- Diagnosis Diaries
- You’re Not Alone
- Present Tense
- Video Series
- Youth in Focus
- Healthy Harvest
- No More Silence
- Future of Health
- Wellness Topics
- Plan
- Health Challenges
- Mindful Eating
- Sugar Savvy
- Move Your Body
- Gut Health
- Mood Foods
- Align Your Spine
- Find Care
- Primary Care
- Mental Health
- OB-GYN
- Dermatologists
- Neurologists
- Cardiologists
- Orthopedists
- Lifestyle Quizzes
- Weight Management
- Am I Depressed? A Quiz for Teens
- Are You a Workaholic?
- How Well Do You Sleep?
- Tools & Resources
- Health News
- Find a Diet
- Find Healthy Snacks
- Drugs A-Z
- Health A-Z
- Health Challenges
- Connect
- Breast Cancer
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Psoriasis
Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.
D. — By Bree Normandin — Updated on August 4, 2017
Animal Bite
Getting bitten by an animal can happen to anyone. You may be hiking or camping and come across a wild animal that bites you to protect itself. Or maybe a neighbor’s dog bites you accidentally during a friendly game of catch.
Many types of animals can inflict bites on adults and children. Most animal bites are from the family pet, but the following animals can bite too:
- raccoons
- ferrets
- squirrels
- rats
Your doctor should examine any animal bites. Immediate medical attention may not always be possible, but you should get the bite checked by your doctor as soon as possible. Once a bite has occurred, it’s important to be on the lookout for signs or symptoms of infection.
The following symptoms may indicate infection or the presence of debris in your wound:
- localized redness around your wound
- warmth around the bite area
- red streaks leading away from the bite
- a fever
- pus
- swelling
- pain
Animal bites can result when an animal is provoked.
Provoked bites may occur if you try to remove food while a dog is eating. They can also happen if you tease your family pet.
However, in many cases animal bites are unprovoked. Unprovoked bites can occur in your backyard. Sometimes a raccoon or squirrel may attack for no obvious reason. If this occurs, the attacking animal is likely to be seriously ill.
If you’ve been bitten, you should immediately visit your doctor for several reasons. There may be a risk of getting:
- an infection, including bacterial and rabies infections
- broken animal teeth embedded in your wound
- foreign objects embedded in your wound
- possible nerve and blood vessel damage
The following types of bites pose the greatest risk of infection and should be promptly evaluated:
- dog bites
- cat bites
- wild animal bites
Your doctor will assess your risk of infection, check for additional injuries, and attempt to minimize scarring. Examinations following an animal bite usually involve the following:
Inspection
Wounds are thoroughly examined for debris.
Your wound may be treated with a numbing agent before your doctor examines it.
X-Rays
Your doctor can order X-rays to check for bone fractures. An X-ray can also help them ensure there’s no debris in the wound that isn’t visible upon inspection. Certain types of foreign material such as dirt or grass are easy to overlook.
Irrigation
Your doctor will irrigate the wound to clean it properly. This is important to prevent infection. Irrigation may not always prevent infection, but it does reduce the risk. A local anesthetic may be used to minimize pain.
Debridement
Animal bites can result in skin tears that can’t be repaired. A procedure known as debridement may be necessary to remove dead or infected skin and tissue that can’t be repaired. Debridement can sometimes be painful. You may need a local anesthetic for this procedure.
Closure
Puncture wounds aren’t usually closed with stitches. But some wounds must be sutured, or stitched, immediately after the bite.
Wound Care
Your doctor may recommend different methods of wound care, based on the injury you sustained. Wounds that have been sutured should be kept clean and dry. Showering may be permitted, but the injury should be dried softly to avoid damaging the sutures. Wounds that aren’t sutured may require daily soaking or other treatments.
Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection resulting from an animal bite. The following types of bites usually warrant antibiotics:
- cat bites
- wounds that require debriding
- heavily contaminated wounds
Antibiotics are usually prescribed to older adults or people who have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes.
Most bite wounds can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If your bite is severe, your doctor might prescribe a stronger pain medication for short-term pain relief.
Most animal bites heal quickly. There usually aren’t serious complications unless the bite is extremely severe.
However, it can lead to scarring.
Lowering the risk of being bitten by an animal is fairly easy. You can do this by using common sense and remembering the following:
- Avoid contact with unknown animals.
- Never feed or attempt to catch wild animals, such as squirrels, raccoons, or rats.
- Avoid disturbing animals that are known for caring for their babies.
- Never engage in aggressive playing with animals. A family dog can accidentally bite you during a friendly game of tug-of-war.
- Never stick your fingers into animal cages.
Unless the bite is completely unprovoked or the animal is sick, most bites can be prevented easily.
Last medically reviewed on January 29, 2016
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Bites and stings. (n.d.)
hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/pediatrics/bites_and_stings_animals_85,P00980/ - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, November 25). Animal bites: First aid
mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-animal-bites/basics/art-20056591 - Preventing dog bites. (2015, May 18)
cdc.gov/features/dog-bite-prevention/
Share this article
Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. — By Bree Normandin — Updated on August 4, 2017
Read this next
- Animal Bite Infections
Medically reviewed by Nancy Choi, MD
Domestic animals, like dogs and cats, are responsible for the majority of animal bites. Read more about types of bites, symptoms, and treatments.
READ MORE
- Human Bites
Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O.
Human bites are common in children, especially when teething, and should be cleaned and treated immediately to avoid infection.
Learn how to recognize…READ MORE
- Animal Bite of Finger
Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D.
Animal bites on your hand and fingers are common, especially from pets like dogs and cats. Though these injuries are typically not life-threatening…
READ MORE
- Rat-Bite First Aid
Medically reviewed by Vincent J. Tavella DVM, MPH
Rat bites are usually very small, but they can pose serious health risks. Learn how to identify rat bites and ensure you don’t develop an infection.
READ MORE
- How to Identify and Treat Mite Bites
Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH
Have some unexplained red spots on your skin? They could be mite bites. We’ll go over the most common types, how to identify them, and whether they…
READ MORE
- How to Get Rid of Bedbugs
You may have to try a few different chemical and nonchemical approaches to get rid of bedbugs, especially if you have a large infestation. Here’s how.
READ MORE
- Is It Bedbugs, Other Bug Bites, or a Rash?
Medically reviewed by Emelia Arquilla, DO
The best way to know if you’re dealing with bedbugs is to look for evidence of them in your home. Here’s what you need to know.
READ MORE
- Identifying Bug Bites and Stings, and How To Treat Them
While most bug bites cause only mild symptoms, some bug bites can transmit disease. Read on to learn more about symptoms and how to prevent bug bites.
READ MORE
- Should You Pop the Blisters Caused by Fire Ant Stings?
Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI
Fire ants are found in many southern U.S. states. They respond aggressively when their home is disturbed, biting and injecting venom.
READ MORE
Learn how to recognize…
Animal Bite: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Animal Bite: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- Health Conditions
- Featured
- Breast Cancer
- IBD
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Articles
- Acid Reflux
- ADHD
- Allergies
- Alzheimer’s & Dementia
- Bipolar Disorder
- Cancer
- Crohn’s Disease
- Chronic Pain
- Cold & Flu
- COPD
- Depression
- Fibromyalgia
- Heart Disease
- High Cholesterol
- HIV
- Hypertension
- IPF
- Osteoarthritis
- Psoriasis
- Skin Disorders and Care
- STDs
- Featured
- Discover
- Wellness Topics
- Nutrition
- Fitness
- Skin Care
- Sexual Health
- Women’s Health
- Mental Well-Being
- Sleep
- Product Reviews
- Vitamins & Supplements
- Sleep
- Mental Health
- Nutrition
- At-Home Testing
- CBD
- Men’s Health
- Original Series
- Fresh Food Fast
- Diagnosis Diaries
- You’re Not Alone
- Present Tense
- Video Series
- Youth in Focus
- Healthy Harvest
- No More Silence
- Future of Health
- Wellness Topics
- Plan
- Health Challenges
- Mindful Eating
- Sugar Savvy
- Move Your Body
- Gut Health
- Mood Foods
- Align Your Spine
- Find Care
- Primary Care
- Mental Health
- OB-GYN
- Dermatologists
- Neurologists
- Cardiologists
- Orthopedists
- Lifestyle Quizzes
- Weight Management
- Am I Depressed? A Quiz for Teens
- Are You a Workaholic?
- How Well Do You Sleep?
- Tools & Resources
- Health News
- Find a Diet
- Find Healthy Snacks
- Drugs A-Z
- Health A-Z
- Health Challenges
- Connect
- Breast Cancer
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Psoriatic Arthritis
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Psoriasis
Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.
D. — By Bree Normandin — Updated on August 4, 2017
Animal Bite
Getting bitten by an animal can happen to anyone. You may be hiking or camping and come across a wild animal that bites you to protect itself. Or maybe a neighbor’s dog bites you accidentally during a friendly game of catch.
Many types of animals can inflict bites on adults and children. Most animal bites are from the family pet, but the following animals can bite too:
- raccoons
- ferrets
- squirrels
- rats
Your doctor should examine any animal bites. Immediate medical attention may not always be possible, but you should get the bite checked by your doctor as soon as possible. Once a bite has occurred, it’s important to be on the lookout for signs or symptoms of infection.
The following symptoms may indicate infection or the presence of debris in your wound:
- localized redness around your wound
- warmth around the bite area
- red streaks leading away from the bite
- a fever
- pus
- swelling
- pain
Animal bites can result when an animal is provoked.
Provoked bites may occur if you try to remove food while a dog is eating. They can also happen if you tease your family pet.
However, in many cases animal bites are unprovoked. Unprovoked bites can occur in your backyard. Sometimes a raccoon or squirrel may attack for no obvious reason. If this occurs, the attacking animal is likely to be seriously ill.
If you’ve been bitten, you should immediately visit your doctor for several reasons. There may be a risk of getting:
- an infection, including bacterial and rabies infections
- broken animal teeth embedded in your wound
- foreign objects embedded in your wound
- possible nerve and blood vessel damage
The following types of bites pose the greatest risk of infection and should be promptly evaluated:
- dog bites
- cat bites
- wild animal bites
Your doctor will assess your risk of infection, check for additional injuries, and attempt to minimize scarring. Examinations following an animal bite usually involve the following:
Inspection
Wounds are thoroughly examined for debris.:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/spiderbitefinal-5a2ff7229e94270037bb4efa.png)
Your wound may be treated with a numbing agent before your doctor examines it.
X-Rays
Your doctor can order X-rays to check for bone fractures. An X-ray can also help them ensure there’s no debris in the wound that isn’t visible upon inspection. Certain types of foreign material such as dirt or grass are easy to overlook.
Irrigation
Your doctor will irrigate the wound to clean it properly. This is important to prevent infection. Irrigation may not always prevent infection, but it does reduce the risk. A local anesthetic may be used to minimize pain.
Debridement
Animal bites can result in skin tears that can’t be repaired. A procedure known as debridement may be necessary to remove dead or infected skin and tissue that can’t be repaired. Debridement can sometimes be painful. You may need a local anesthetic for this procedure.
Closure
Puncture wounds aren’t usually closed with stitches. But some wounds must be sutured, or stitched, immediately after the bite.
Wound Care
Your doctor may recommend different methods of wound care, based on the injury you sustained. Wounds that have been sutured should be kept clean and dry. Showering may be permitted, but the injury should be dried softly to avoid damaging the sutures. Wounds that aren’t sutured may require daily soaking or other treatments.
Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection resulting from an animal bite. The following types of bites usually warrant antibiotics:
- cat bites
- wounds that require debriding
- heavily contaminated wounds
Antibiotics are usually prescribed to older adults or people who have chronic medical conditions such as diabetes.
Most bite wounds can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If your bite is severe, your doctor might prescribe a stronger pain medication for short-term pain relief.
Most animal bites heal quickly. There usually aren’t serious complications unless the bite is extremely severe.
However, it can lead to scarring.
Lowering the risk of being bitten by an animal is fairly easy. You can do this by using common sense and remembering the following:
- Avoid contact with unknown animals.
- Never feed or attempt to catch wild animals, such as squirrels, raccoons, or rats.
- Avoid disturbing animals that are known for caring for their babies.
- Never engage in aggressive playing with animals. A family dog can accidentally bite you during a friendly game of tug-of-war.
- Never stick your fingers into animal cages.
Unless the bite is completely unprovoked or the animal is sick, most bites can be prevented easily.
Last medically reviewed on January 29, 2016
How we reviewed this article:
Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- Bites and stings. (n.d.)
hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/pediatrics/bites_and_stings_animals_85,P00980/ - Mayo Clinic Staff. (2014, November 25). Animal bites: First aid
mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-animal-bites/basics/art-20056591 - Preventing dog bites. (2015, May 18)
cdc.gov/features/dog-bite-prevention/
Share this article
Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. — By Bree Normandin — Updated on August 4, 2017
Read this next
- Animal Bite Infections
Medically reviewed by Nancy Choi, MD
Domestic animals, like dogs and cats, are responsible for the majority of animal bites. Read more about types of bites, symptoms, and treatments.
READ MORE
- Human Bites
Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O.
Human bites are common in children, especially when teething, and should be cleaned and treated immediately to avoid infection.
Learn how to recognize…READ MORE
- Animal Bite of Finger
Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D.
Animal bites on your hand and fingers are common, especially from pets like dogs and cats. Though these injuries are typically not life-threatening…
READ MORE
- Rat-Bite First Aid
Medically reviewed by Vincent J. Tavella DVM, MPH
Rat bites are usually very small, but they can pose serious health risks. Learn how to identify rat bites and ensure you don’t develop an infection.
READ MORE
- How to Identify and Treat Mite Bites
Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH
Have some unexplained red spots on your skin? They could be mite bites. We’ll go over the most common types, how to identify them, and whether they…
READ MORE
- How to Get Rid of Bedbugs
You may have to try a few different chemical and nonchemical approaches to get rid of bedbugs, especially if you have a large infestation. Here’s how.
READ MORE
- Is It Bedbugs, Other Bug Bites, or a Rash?
Medically reviewed by Emelia Arquilla, DO
The best way to know if you’re dealing with bedbugs is to look for evidence of them in your home. Here’s what you need to know.
READ MORE
- Identifying Bug Bites and Stings, and How To Treat Them
While most bug bites cause only mild symptoms, some bug bites can transmit disease. Read on to learn more about symptoms and how to prevent bug bites.
READ MORE
- Should You Pop the Blisters Caused by Fire Ant Stings?
Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI
Fire ants are found in many southern U.S. states. They respond aggressively when their home is disturbed, biting and injecting venom.
READ MORE
Learn how to recognize…
Animal bites: description, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment animals did not spoil your holiday.
What is an animal bite
If a person has already been bitten, never try to stop the bleeding from the first second – along with it, poison and other harmful substances that can cause infection are removed from the wound.
An animal bite is, first of all, an injury that may be accompanied by an infectious infection. Therefore, it is important not to miss the time for first aid.
What to do if bitten by wild animals?
First you need to determine the type of animal and its behavior. Because too aggressive behavior can be triggered by rabies disease.
First aid depending on the type of animal:
Insect stings (bees, wasps, bumblebees, hornets):
- Check the affected area for the presence of an insect sting. It must be carefully removed from the wound with tweezers.
- Treat the affected area.
- Apply cold (ice) to the bite site to relieve pain and swelling.
- If allergic reactions occur, take an antihistamine, and if the measures taken do not stop the development of symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Snake bite:
- A person bitten by a poisonous snake (after providing first aid) should urgently go to a medical institution, where he will be injected with a specific antidote serum.
- The victim must be laid down, not giving him the opportunity to walk and move, so that the poison does not spread through the bloodstream through the body.
- It should be remembered that panic and nervousness also increase blood flow, so try to calm down.
- Wash the bite with warm soapy water and apply a clean bandage.
- Not recommended: Cauterize the bite site, make incisions. This causes excess blood loss, can provoke additional infection, and the wound does not heal for a long time after this.
Tick bite:
- Contact a medical facility to remove the tick.
- If it is not possible to contact a specialist, then it is necessary to carefully remove the insect, making sure that the head and legs do not remain in the wound, save it and hand it over to the laboratory for analysis.
Jellyfish sting:
- Wash your skin with sea (not fresh!) water.
- If tentacles, mucus or stinging cells remain on the skin, remove them with tweezers or by wearing gloves.
- If poison gets into eyes, rinse with running water.
- Apply anti-allergic ointment, and if the pain is severe, you can take pain medication.
Animal bites (cats, dogs):
- It is necessary to wash the affected area with running water to remove the remnants of the animal’s saliva from the wound.
- Treat the skin around the wound (not the wound itself!) with alcohol or tincture of iodine, then apply a clean bandage and take the victim to a doctor.
- If there is no information about the presence of vaccinations of the bitten animal, then you will have to withstand more than one shot against rabies.
The main symptoms of rabies in humans
If an animal bite occurs, then it is necessary to contact the emergency room promptly. The doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment and indicate whether it is necessary to inject the vaccine, as well as whether a course of vaccination is needed.
Symptoms of rabies
The first symptoms, such as: general malaise, fever, abdominal pain, sore throat, indigestion, headache, are often confused with an intestinal infection or respiratory disease. If rabies is not diagnosed in time, the following symptoms appear: mood swings: apathy may be replaced by increased excitability. This is due to damage to the nervous system. Also, at this stage of manifestation, the sick may be overly aggressive and may try to bite, attack with fists. At the same time, various phobias may intensify (appear) in a person: photophobia (fear of bright light), acousticophobia (fear of very loud sounds), aerophobia (fear of a breath of air), etc.
The total duration of illness can be 3-7 days. During this period, symptoms may alternate, from anxiety to apathy. In the absence of treatment, the functions of the pelvic organs are disturbed, paralysis of the limbs, as well as cranial nerves, is manifested. Often, all these symptoms are fatal.
It is important to understand that in case of a bite of any animal, insect or snake, it is important to carry out first aid and take the person to the hospital so that he can receive qualified assistance.
Rabies – symptoms and causes
Many of us know from childhood – if an animal bites – you should immediately consult a doctor so as not to get sick with rabies. Few people think at this point that rabies can lead to unpleasant symptoms. For the most part, we are concerned about our own lives, because we know that rabies is a fatal disease. And indeed it is! Severe damage to the nervous system may well end in failure if precautions are not taken in time.
So what do we know about rabies?
The disease is not new at all, it was described thousands of years ago in the most ancient textbooks on medicine. These were Egyptian papyri, Indian sacred books, written sources found on the territory of Greece and Rome. Even the Bible mentions mad animals that can transmit disease to humans.
A dangerous disease was described in the Middle Ages and much later. Today, a lot of information is known about her. Whatever the ancient people did not try to treat the disease – they burned the bite with a red-hot iron, drank poisonous herbs and drugs.
However, there was no cure. Until the 19th century inclusive. Only in the 80s of the nineteenth century, Louis Pasteur (the great French scientist) tested the anti-rabies vaccine, so named from the word Rabies, which means rabies in Latin. Pasteur first saved a boy with rabies with his vaccine, and a little later he again saved a shepherd, on whom there was no living place from the bites of a rabid dog. Thus, the scientist confirmed his result. The vaccine has become widely used throughout the world.
It is interesting that the disease, occurring all over the world, never reached the island countries: Great Britain, Australia, Japan, Cyprus. It is not found in the northern countries (Norway and Sweden). You can also feel safe in this regard in the south of Europe – in Spain and Portugal.
Causes of rabies
Where does this terrible disease come from? The causative agent of rabies is the Neuroiyctes rabid virus from the Rhabdovtridae family. Outwardly, it resembles a rifle bullet containing single-stranded DNA. The virus is so tenacious that it is not afraid of phenol, freezing, even antibiotics. It can be destroyed only by acid and ultraviolet rays, carbolic acid, chloramine.
Scientists divide the virus into natural and fixed, which is studied in laboratories.
The fixed virus is not dangerous because it cannot be transmitted in the saliva of animals and is not transmitted during a bite. It is used to obtain a therapeutic vaccine by growing in hamster embryos, on chicken or duck embryos. A source of danger to humans is a rabies-infected dog, fox, wolf, or, in a small probability, other animals. Children 4-14 years old in rural areas, in spring or summer, are most likely to become infected with rabies.
It is noteworthy that an infected animal does not show any disease for three to ten days, but remains dangerous all the time.
The saliva of an animal that has entered human blood is dangerous. Infection spreads especially quickly with a bite to the head or hands. A neglected disease is more dangerous, and a violation of the vaccination regimen can also lead to negative consequences. An incomplete course can render the entire treatment untenable.
Symptoms of rabies
What happens to a person if he is bitten by a rabid dog?
Getting into the bloodstream through damaged skin, the virus quickly reacts, reaching the central nervous system in a matter of moments, and is sent back to the periphery. After some time, the nervous system becomes completely affected. The virus enters the saliva. It is the neurogenic spread of the virus that determines the rapid infection, since the virus moves through the nerve cells with great speed.
There is a hypothesis that such a rapid spread of the virus is determined by the effect of the Earth’s electromagnetic field on a person.
Scientists are trying to use this conclusion to achieve a therapeutic effect, and in experiments on mice, this is quite successful. The electrodes are located in this way: positive on the head, and negative on the foot. When exposed to electric current, the virus dies, but when the position of the electrodes is changed, on the contrary, the infection spreads much faster.
The lymphatic system also plays an important role in the spread of the virus.
The actions of the virus in the body in their sequence resemble snake venom.
When multiplying in nerve tissues, edema occurs, hemorrhage may occur, nerve cells change necrotically. Neurons are destroyed in the area of the cerebellum, thalamus and cerebral cortex. However, the incubation period is quite long – from 1 to 3 months, in some cases fluctuations can reach from 12 days to 1 year. The most rapid development of the disease occurs with the most dangerous bites in the head, legs, palm.
Rabies diagnostics
The disease is recognized externally, the symptoms are evaluated at different stages.
There are 3 stages of the course of the disease: depression of the initial stage, agitation and paralysis. The blood is examined for lymphocytic leukocytosis or aneosinophilia. In the general blood test, lymphocytic leukocytosis is noted with aneosinophilia. The rabies virus can also be detected on the surface of the shell of the eye.
• Rabies stage I – depression
Unpleasant sensations in the bite area are different from the usual pain from tissue damage. They are pulling, the wound itches, there is hyperesthesia of the skin, although the wound is completely scarred. Inflammation can occur locally, chronically, the wound becomes inflamed. There is a slight increase in body temperature. With bites on the open skin of the face, hallucinations may appear, sensitivity to odors increases. The first symptoms of mental disorders are associated with incomprehensible melancholy, depression, anxiety. In a dream, terrible dreams and nightmares come. The patient is apathetic during the day, not energetic.
This stage can last 1-3 days, then stage 2 begins, with characteristic excitement.
• Rabies stage II – excitement
Excitement increases sharply. The most characteristic symptom that occurs in the second stage is rabies – the patient cannot drink water, there is a contraction of muscles and respiratory muscles in the throat. Breathing becomes convulsive. Even the simple sounds of water can cause spasms. Any irritant causes an inadequate reaction, aerophobia develops (fear of a simple breath of wind in the face), acousticophobia (fear of loud sounds). Patients behave inappropriately, bite, tear their clothes. If there is no death. There is severe paralysis.
• III stage of rabies – paralysis.
During this period, the motor and sensory function is so reduced that the patient’s condition can be taken as an improvement. However, a high temperature appears, tachycardia are real signs of an imminent death. Paralysis of the heart or respiratory center leads to death.
It is noteworthy that the development of the disease in children lasts less in time, and periods of hydrophobia may not be at all. The disease manifests itself in a state of depression, drowsiness, which are replaced by collapse.
Rabies treatment
If bitten by a rabid animal, seek immediate medical attention. The wound is treated – the bite area is washed with soap and a directed stream of water. Vaccination is carried out with serum and anti-rabies immunoglobulin.
There are no completely effective methods of treatment even today, therapy is being carried out to reduce the suffering of the patient. He is placed in a dark, calm room, and cuare-like and painkillers are injected.
But in general, it is noted that the prognosis is almost always unfavorable – a fatal outcome. That is why much attention should be paid to the prevention of this terrible disease.
Rabies prophylaxis
When bitten by an unknown animal, the wound is treated – the bite area is washed with soap and a directed stream of water.