Rabies (Hydrophobia, Hydrophobia)

Rabies is an acute viral disease that occurs when the saliva of an infected animal comes into contact with damaged skin. The disease is characterized by the development of a kind of encephalitis with a fatal outcome. In this article we will look at the etiology, pathogenesis, symptoms, course, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of rabies.

Etiology and pathogenesis

The causative agent of rabies belongs to the group of rhabdoviruses. It is pathogenic for many warm-blooded animals, which begin to excrete the virus in saliva 78 days before the onset of clinical symptoms. After penetration through damaged skin, the virus reaches the brain along the nerve trunks, causing swelling, hemorrhages, and degeneration of nerve cells. The virus also enters the salivary glands and is released into the external environment with saliva.

Symptoms and course

The incubation period lasts from 10 days to a year (usually 1-3 months). There are three stages of the disease: initial (depression), agitation and paralysis.

The initial stage lasts 1-3 days. At this time, the patient experiences unpleasant sensations in the area of ​​the bite or salivation (burning, nagging pain, itching), although the wound has already healed, causeless anxiety, depression, insomnia.

The excitation stage is characterized by hydrophobia, aerophobia and increased sensitivity. Hydrophobia (phobia of water) manifests itself in the fact that when trying to drink, and then only when approaching a glass of water to the lips, the patient experiences a convulsive contraction of the muscles of the pharynx and larynx, breathing becomes noisy in the form of short convulsive breaths, and a short-term cessation of breathing is possible. Convulsions can occur from blowing a stream of air into the face (aerophobia).

Body temperature is subfebrile. Salivation is increased, the patient does not