Can rabies be treated?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

Updated on September 24, 2024

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Rabies, once contracted, is incurable and leads to a 100% fatality rate.

The reason rabies is incurable primarily stems from the rabies virus invading the human body and proliferating extensively within the brain's nerves. This leads to the destruction of brain tissues and the exhaustion of brain functions, making it impossible to treat. Therefore, prevention of rabies is crucial. If there is exposure to the rabies virus, it is necessary to administer the rabies vaccine, and in some cases, it may also be necessary to administer rabies immunoglobulin concurrently.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

42sec

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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 Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

34sec

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Symptoms of rabies

After the onset of rabies, obvious clinical symptoms appear, including panic, irritability, and a range of neurological symptoms such as fear of wind, water, bright lights, and noise sensitivity. There can also be hyperextension, restlessness, hallucinations, and ultimately death due to coma. Once rabies begins to manifest, most patients die within 3-5 days, with very few surviving beyond a week. Rabies is a fatal disease, with a 100% mortality rate once infected, and there are no effective treatments available.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

32sec

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Rabies fear of water refers to hydrophobia, a symptom of rabies characterized by a fear or panic attack when attempting to drink water or when presented with liquids.

Patients with rabies are indeed very afraid of water. When trying to drink water, or even when seeing water or hearing the word "water," they experience uncontrollable spasms in the throat muscles and difficulty swallowing. Although they are very thirsty, they dare not drink water. In addition to being afraid of water, they are also afraid of bright lights, noise, and wind. These stimuli can cause whole-body spasms and pain, lead to opisthotonos, excessive nervous excitement, and eventually result in death due to coma.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

37sec

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Rabies is transmitted through what?

Rabies is actually a relatively rare disease, but it is a very dangerous one with a 100% fatality rate once infected. In clinical practice, most cases of rabies are due to not being vaccinated after being bitten by a rabid dog. There are also frequent occurrences after being bitten or scratched by a cat without vaccination against rabies. Additionally, there is a risk of infection from bat bites as well. Rabies cannot be treated, and the main approach is prevention. There have been no cases of transmission from human to human, and it can be prevented through rabies vaccination.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai

Infectious Disease

34sec

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How long is the incubation period for rabies?

The incubation period for rabies is generally about one to three months, and it is rare to exceed one year. Therefore, if more than three months have passed since being bitten by a dog without showing symptoms, it is largely possible to rule out rabies. Rabies is a fatal disease, with a 100% death rate once infected, mainly because the infection occurs after being bitten by rabid dogs, cats, or bats and not receiving the rabies vaccine. Rabies can only be prevented, so if there is exposure to the rabies virus, it is necessary to get vaccinated against rabies.