What are the symptoms of rabies?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on May 17, 2025
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The symptoms of rabies can include fever, general discomfort, muscle soreness, fatigue, and headaches, which are typical preclinical symptoms. Subsequently, numbness, pain, and itching at the site of the bite may occur. This is followed by a series of related neurological symptoms, such as hydrophobia and aerophobia, where even the sight or mention of water can trigger involuntary spasms in the throat muscles and difficulty swallowing. There is also extreme sensitivity and fear of bright lights and noises, agitation, eventually leading to coma and death.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Does rabies spread through saliva?

Rabies is primarily transmitted through saliva. The rabies virus is likely to be present in the saliva of dogs or cats during the symptomatic phase. Dogs or cats carrying the rabies virus have a high concentration of the virus in their saliva during this phase. If bitten by an animal in this stage, there is a significant risk of infection. Prevention measures should be based on the actual situation, including vaccination against rabies and local administration of rabies immunoglobulin at the wound site. Rabies is a fatal disease with no treatment available, but it is preventable.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Symptoms of rabies

Rabies is an extremely dangerous and fatal disease. Once infected, it leads to a 100% fatality rate. When rabies presents its more typical symptoms, particularly during the furious phase, it manifests significant neurological symptoms such as hallucinations, convulsive seizures, bizarre behavior, hyperactivity, and rigid neck muscles. Symptoms show as extreme fear, with a pronounced fear of water, light, and wind, and include uncontrollable spasms of the throat muscles making swallowing difficult. It progresses to opisthotonus and ultimately results in coma and death.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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How is rabies transmitted?

Rabies is primarily contracted through bites from rabid dogs who have not been vaccinated against the disease. The rabies virus is present in the saliva of rabid dogs, cats, and there is also a risk of infection from bats if they carry the rabies virus and one is bitten by such a bat. Generally, rabies infection occurs through bites or scratches from animals carrying the rabies virus; there have been no cases of transmission from human to human. Rabies is a fatal disease, so if there is exposure, it is essential to take preventive measures, as there is no cure.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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How long does rabies usually take to manifest?

Rabies generally has a variable incubation period. The question actually refers to the incubation period of rabies. The duration of this period can vary widely; the shortest is about five days before onset of the disease, while the longest can reach up to eight years. The average incubation period is two to three months, with cases exceeding one year accounting for 2%-3% of instances. The length of the incubation period is related to factors such as the virulence of the virus, and the nerve distribution at the site of entry. The greater the amount of the virus, the stronger its virulence, and the richer the nerve supply at the site of entry, especially if it is closer to the central nervous system, the shorter the incubation period will be.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Rabies: Hazards and Prevention

Rabies is a fatal disease, with a 100% mortality rate upon infection. Therefore, rabies is extremely dangerous. In terms of prevention and control of rabies, prevention is the only option. By strengthening prevention, the incidence of rabies can be reduced. For the prevention of rabies, it is necessary to routinely administer rabies vaccinations to animals such as dogs and cats. Individuals who frequently come into contact with dogs, cats, bats, and other animals should receive preventive rabies vaccinations.