Rabies refers to one of the most dangerousdiseases. It is caused by a virus that passes to a person from the bite of an infected animal. The disease affects the nervous system and is characterized by a fatal outcome. To prevent the disease you need to do the vaccination: a shot from rabies.
By nature, rabies virus belongs to the genusLyssavirus and the family of Rhabdoviridae microbes. Detect the causative agent of the disease can be in the saliva, secretions and tears. The virus is destroyed at a temperature of 56 ° C for 15 minutes, and at 100 ° - for 2 minutes, it does not tolerate sun and ultraviolet rays, ethanol and disinfectants. At the same time, the causative agent of rabies is extremely resistant to low temperatures, antibiotics and phenol. The disease can be transmitted to humans by wild and domestic animals. Especially dangerous are foxes and stray dogs in spring and summer. The animal is infectious for 3-10 days before the onset of symptoms and throughout the duration of the disease. Characteristic signs of the sick animal can be salivation and watering, water phobia. A person can catch a bite or a large saliva of saliva on the damaged skin and mucous membranes. There are also cases of infection by airborne droplets, through water and the placenta. If the injection from rabies has not been made in time, then the virus begins to become more active.
When a virus enters the body, it quicklyspreads along the nerve endings and for a short time affects the whole nervous system, provoking swelling, hemorrhages and serious changes in the nerve cells of the brain. The incubation period can last from 30 to 50 days, and in some cases 10-90 days and up to a year.
The disease occurs in three stages.The first stage is characterized by general malaise, pain in the muscles, a slight increase in body temperature, the appearance of burning and pain in the place of bite, depression, insomnia, hallucinations. II stage comes in one to three days - excitation begins, hydrophobia, noisy breathing, seizures, aggression, sweat and salivation. After two or three days the disease passes to the final stage, when calming comes, the hydrophobia goes away. Temporary relief ends with an increase in temperature to 42 degrees, then comes paralysis, convulsions, cardiac arrest and death. The whole illness lasts about 7 days.
Treatment of the disease and immunization
The disease is almost incurable.At the same time, it is possible to prevent it. In this case it is necessary to make a shot of rabies no later than two weeks after the bite of the animal. In this case, a specific immunoglobulin is administered or active immunization is carried out - vaccination against rabies.
Usually follow this pattern:a shot from rabies is done on the first, third, fourteenth and twenty-eighth days after the bite. It is also recommended that another injection is made ninety days after the first administration of the vaccine.
Injection is best done in the thigh ordeltoid muscle of the shoulder. In case a person was bitten, but before that he was vaccinated, there are enough antibodies in his body, and he is vaccinated without immunoglobulin.
Persons who often communicate with animals, such as veterinarians, hunters, need to do a prophylactic vaccination, with a booster one year later, and then every five years.
How to behave if a person has been bitten by an animal
After biting, it is necessary to rinse abundantlybite with soap and water. Then you should consult your doctor, informing you of all available information about the bitten animal and the circumstances of the bite. If the doctor can not make sure that there is no rabies in the animal, then it is necessary to take a course of vaccinations, which he will appoint.
With a severe condition bitten, he mayhospital care is required, especially for people with diseases of the nervous system, allergies, pregnant women and those who have been vaccinated against other diseases within the last 2 months. During the vaccination itself, and afterwards another half a year, you should avoid drinking alcohol, and you can not overstrain, overcool, and overheat.
If the condition worsens after the administration of the vaccineand there are side effects of the vaccination against rabies, you should contact the medical staff and stop vaccinations temporarily. The decision on the continuation of vaccination is taken by a physician after the conclusion of a neurologist, a rabiologist and a therapist.
