World Rabies Day 2019: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of This Zoonotic Disease
Despite being 100 percent preventable, rabies incidences are still quite common today and still continue to cause thousands of deaths every year. Poor understanding of the disease, its prevention and its treatment is the cause of high rabies-related mortality.
Rabies is a potentially fatal viral disease spread through infected warm-blooded animals. It’s a zoonotic disease caused by the rabies virus of the Lyssavirus family. Although rare, rabies is a very serious infection that affects the brain and nerves. Humans are infected through the bites of an affected animal. One of the commonest reservoirs is the domestic dog, which causes 99 percent of rabies-related deaths in humans. Despite being 100 percent preventable, rabies incidences are still quite common today and still continue to cause thousands of deaths every year. Poor understanding of the disease, its prevention and its treatment is the cause of high rabies-related mortality. By the times the symptoms of rabies show, it’s too late to save the patient. So ever year on September 28, World Rabies Day is observed to spread awareness about the ways to prevent and treat the zoonotic disease. On World Rabies Day 2019, here are the causes, symptoms and treatment of this viral disease.
Causes of Rabies
Dog bites are one of the most prominent causes of rabies. Apart from dogs, animals like skunks, racoons, foxes and bats are also responsible for spreading the disease. The disease is passed on through the saliva of infected animals. When the infected saliva comes in contact with broken skin, open wound or mucous membranes, the virus enters the body and starts infecting healthy cells. Rabies: How to Spot a Rabid Animal – 10 Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For.
Symptoms of Rabies
The symptoms of rabies don’t show until the disease progresses to a fatal stage. These include:
• Vomiting
• High fever
• Headache
• Anxiety
• Cough
• Swelling at the bite site
• Fits
• Muscle twitching
• Confusion
• Aggression
• Laboured breathing
• Hallucinations
• Fear of water
• Fear of light
• A permanent erection (in men)
• Coma
Treatment and Prevention of Rabies
National Institute of Health states that there’s no effective treatment for rabies. Prevention is the only effective weapon against rabies. Taking care of the wound is the first step. How to Prevent Zoonotic Diseases Like Rabies, Nipah Virus Infection and Leptospirosis.
• Immediately after getting bitten, the site should be washed with soap and water.
• The site shouldn’t be bandaged.
• Swab deeply for deep punctures.
• Seek medical help immediately.
• Vaccinate yourself and your family against rabies.
• Vaccinate pets and strays in your area.
• Report aggressive stray behaviour.
• Keep track of sick animals.
Rabies is a completely preventable disease. The ignorance surrounding the zoonotic infection is a major hindrance towards eradicating the problem.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 28, 2019 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).