Does rabies cause fever?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on October 19, 2024
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Rabies can indeed cause fever during the more obvious period of clinical symptoms, often accompanied by excessive neurological excitation, such as drooling, tearing, sweating, and tachycardia. There may also be agitation, hallucinations, and other typical neurological symptoms such as hallucinations, convulsions, bizarre behavior, hyperfunction, and neck stiffness. These symptoms manifest as extreme fear, hydrophobia, fear of wind, difficulty swallowing, and high sensitivity to bright light and noise; most cases result in death within 3-5 days, and it is very rare for cases to last more than two weeks.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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How long is the longest incubation period for rabies?

The incubation period of rabies is generally between one to three months, and it is rare for the disease to have incubation period longer than a year. Most cases usually fall within one to three months, according to the 2016 Rabies Prevention Guide. The longest recorded incubation period for rabies mentioned in the guide was six years, but such cases are extremely rare. Therefore, if a person is bitten by a dog and does not develop the disease within a year, it is generally considered that they were not infected with rabies at the time of the bite. Rabies is a fatal disease, with a 100% fatality rate upon infection, so prevention is crucial.

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

Rabies is an incurable disease, and once symptoms develop, it is almost always 100% fatal. However, it is meaningful to use certain medications to control the patient's agitation and relieve their suffering. For example, sedatives such as Valium and phenobarbital can be used. After the onset of rabies, it is essential to isolate the patient and manage the symptoms according to the specific situation. Since rabies is incurable, prevention is critical. If bitten by animals such as dogs or cats, it is necessary to clean and disinfect the wound immediately and then promptly administer rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin.

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

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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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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Can rabies be cured?

Rabies is a fatal disease, resulting in a 100% fatality rate once infected. It cannot be completely cured. The reason rabies leads to 100% mortality is that after the rabies virus infects the human body, it continuously ascends to the brain, where it proliferates extensively, destroying brain tissue and leading to brain function depletion, a condition that is untreatable. Therefore, in dealing with rabies, it is crucial to focus on prevention. If exposed to rabies, it is necessary to receive the rabies vaccine.