How long does rabies take to develop?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on April 22, 2025
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The incubation period for rabies generally ranges from one to three months, rarely exceeding one year, with the shortest onset at five days and the longest around six years. Actually, the duration of the incubation period is related to the location of the bite; the further from the head, the longer the incubation period. If the wound from the bite is superficial and contains fewer rabies viruses, then the incubation period will also be longer. Conversely, if there is a larger amount of rabies virus and the wound is deeper, the incubation period will be shorter. Rabies is a fatal disease, with a 100% mortality rate once infected.

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Infectious Disease
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Does rabies cause diarrhea?

If rabies occurs, there may be symptoms like diarrhea and severe panic. A distinct fear and restlessness toward water, light, and wind are apparent. During the peak of rabies, a person will be in a state of significant agitation and extreme pain. Rabies is a deadly disease with a 100% mortality rate upon onset of symptoms. Currently, there are no treatment methods or strategies, so it is crucial to focus on the prevention of rabies.

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Infectious Disease
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rabies incubation period

The incubation period for rabies is one to three months, and it is rare for it to exceed one year. The length of the incubation period for rabies varies, the shortest being about five days and the longest can reach up to eight years, with an average incubation period of one to three months. Cases exceeding one year account for about 2%-3%. The length of the incubation period for rabies is closely related to several factors including the virulence of the virus, and the nerve distribution at the site of entry. The more viruses there are, the stronger their virulence, and the richer the nerve supply at the entry site, especially closer to the central nervous system, the shorter the incubation period.

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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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Rabies clinical symptoms

Rabies presents with typical symptoms that usually appear two to four days before the onset, including low-grade fever, general discomfort, muscle soreness, weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Some individuals may also experience irrational fear, anxiety, agitation, irritability, hyper-sensitivity, insomnia, or depression. The bitten area may also exhibit symptoms of nerve pain, numbness, itching, or a sensation similar to an ant bite. Once rabies onset occurs, it generally leads to death, and it is rare for individuals to survive more than ten days after the disease manifests.

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

Rabies cannot be cured, and once infected and symptomatic, it is 100% fatal with no existing therapeutic strategies. Treatment only involves symptomatic care to alleviate some symptoms of patients but does not improve prognosis; generally, death occurs. Therefore, prevention of rabies is crucial. If exposed to potentially rabid dog or cat bites, it is essential to promptly administer rabies vaccine, and sometimes, it is necessary to concurrently inject rabies immunoglobulin.