Can rabies be inherited?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Rabies is an infectious disease, not a hereditary disease, and there is no possibility of it being inherited. It is mainly caused by being bitten by dogs, cats, or bats carrying the rabies virus. If timely treatment and intervention are not administered after being bitten by these animals, there is a chance of contracting the rabies virus. The rabies virus attacks the human nervous system and eventually proliferates extensively in the brain, leading to the exhaustion of brain functions and resulting in death.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Does rabies cause coughing?

Rabies generally does not cause severe coughing, but in the late stages of the disease, coughing can occur. Eventually, due to spasms and paralysis of the respiratory muscles, some sputum cannot be expelled, which stimulates the respiratory tract to produce more secretions, possibly leading to frequent coughing. The main symptoms of rabies are a distinct fear and restlessness towards water, light, and wind. Rabies ultimately leads to death due to respiratory muscle failure and paralysis of the respiratory system.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Symptoms of the incubation period of rabies

Rabies has no obvious symptoms during the incubation period. Some people might feel as if ants are biting at the wound site, while others may display symptoms of fatigue and lack of energy; however, the vast majority of people do not show any clear characteristic symptoms. The incubation period for rabies can range from one to three months, and it is rare for it to extend beyond one year. The duration of the incubation period is highly dependent on the location of the bite; the farther from the head, the longer the incubation period. Conversely, the closer to the head and face, the shorter the incubation period.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Can rabies be contagious?

Rabies is contagious and is primarily transmitted through bites from infected dogs, cats, or bats. During the onset of the disease, the saliva of rabid dogs contains a high concentration of the rabies virus. Similarly, the saliva of cats in the onset phase also contains a large amount of the rabies virus. If these rabies viruses enter the human body, there is a significant risk of infection. Currently, transmission of rabies from one person to another is extremely rare; it is mainly transmitted to humans through bites from infected animals during their symptomatic phase.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Can rabies be transmitted?

Rabies is primarily caused by not getting vaccinated after being bitten by a rabid dog; this has been found in epidemiological studies in our country. In addition to bites from rabid dogs, there are also instances of people being bitten or scratched by cats, or bitten by bats, though these are relatively less common. So far, there have been no cases found of transmission from human to human. Rabies is a fatal disease; once infected, the mortality rate is 100%. Therefore, after being bitten by a dog, it is crucial to take preventive measures, treat the wound, and administer rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin to generally prevent infection.

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Written by Han Jian Hua
Infectious Disease
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Rabies symptoms

Rabies is mainly characterized by hydrophobia, fear of wind, pharyngeal muscle spasms, progressive paralysis, etc. It is divided into: the prodromal phase, the excitative phase, and the paralytic phase, with varying symptoms in each phase.