Rabies in humans - do not risk your health

Modern medicine has made significant progress in the treatment of various infections, however?nevertheless there are diseases that have not been completely defeated. One of these diseases is rabies, which can be treated only at the initial stages immediately after infection. In the absence of immediate treatment, rabies in humans leads to a fatal outcome, so treating this "habitual" disease is very serious.

How can I get infected with

? Sick animals are the source of infection, most often cats, dogs( both wild and domestic), wolves, foxes, raccoons or bats. As a rule, a person becomes an accidental victim, because this disease is not peculiar to him. Animals become infectious 10 days before the appearance of the main symptoms of the disease, and the risk of infection persists throughout the period of the disease. The likelihood of infection increases in the warm season, so at this time you need to be especially careful, because rabies in humans causes severe damage to the nervous system. The sick animal can in some cases be distinguished by abundant salivation and rabies, but it all depends on the stage of the disease.

Can I get infected from a person

Theoretically, the infection can occur from person to person, because the saliva of the patient contains a pathogenic virus, therefore, when dealing with a sick person, it is necessary to take precautions. There are cases of transmission of the virus transplacental from mother to child, the reason for numerous discussions was also the possibility of transmission of rabies during organ transplantation.

Description of the disease

In most cases, rabies in humans has an incubation period that lasts about 40-50 days, but sometimes this period can be significantly shorter or longer. It is believed that the further the place of the bite is from the head, the greater will be the incubation period, but the most dangerous are bites in the head and hands.

At the initial stage of the disease, signs of rabies in humans are not expressed, that is, the patient complains of general malaise, headache and muscle pain, possibly a slight increase in body temperature, a decrease in appetite, nausea. The place of the bite turns red, there is burning and itching. Observed and mental disorders - rabies in a person causes depression, a sense of anxiety, anguish, fear, there is insomnia, which can be accompanied by hallucinations.

A maximum of 72 hours later, the stage of excitement begins, in which the patient expresses anxiety and there is a hydrophobia. It becomes difficult for him to breathe, every sigh gives pain in his chest. There is increased irritability and excitability, some patients rush about the room, crash furniture, they can try to attack people. Increases sweating and salivation, but it is impossible to swallow saliva, so it must spit. Rabies in people, the symptoms of which often can not be determined immediately, quickly progresses, so the signs of the disease change each other, even without having had time to form properly.

The terminal stage begins 3-5 days after the appearance of the first signs of the disease. It is characterized by some improvement in the patient's condition, his mental health becomes stronger, he calms down. However, soon there is a rapid increase in temperature to 40-42 degrees, paralysis of the upper and lower extremities, convulsions, consciousness is disturbed. The cause of death is usually cardiac or respiratory failure.

Treatment of rabies

As you know, rabies in humans is incurable if the disease is already at least the first stage. The only means modern medicine can offer is vaccination, which must be performed no later than 2 weeks after the bite. Vaccination creates immunity, which is quite unstable and requires a revaccination every 5 years.