Rabies

Rabies is an acute infectious disease of humans that affects the nervous system and in 100% of cases without treatment leads to death. The main source of the disease are carnivores: foxes, wolves, dogs and cats. The virus is released from the animal's body in saliva. A person becomes infected when bitten by a rabid animal or when the animal’s saliva gets on damaged skin. From the site of entry, the virus spreads along nerve fibers to the spinal cord and brain. Susceptibility to rabies is universal.

During the course of the disease, there are 4 periods of rabies: incubation, prodromal, peak and terminal.

The incubation period of rabies lasts from 10 to 90 days, its duration is directly dependent on the location of the bite. The shortest incubation period for rabies occurs for bites to the head and hands, and the longest for bites to the shin.

The prodromal period (depression) of rabies lasts 1-3 days. The bite site turns red, itching and pain appear along the nerves. The patient is depressed, sleeps poorly, and experiences a feeling of causeless anxiety and melancholy. Weakness and indigestion occur.

The peak period lasts 2-3 days, in rare cases - up to 6 days. The patient's condition changes, depression gives way to excitement. A fear of water (hydrophobia) appears - the most characteristic sign of rabies. When trying to drink, and then at the sight of water, the patient experiences fear, his face expresses horror, his pupils are dilated. The patient leans back and pushes the water away with his hands. At this moment, a spasm of the pharynx and larynx occurs. Breathing becomes frequent, shallow, inhalation is difficult. At the height of the attack, consciousness may be impaired: the patient becomes aggressive, bites and scratches himself and others, at this moment the patient experiences auditory and visual hallucinations.

The attack of rage lasts several seconds, after which the spasm of the muscles of the pharynx and larynx disappears, consciousness becomes clearer. After 1-2 days from the beginning of the height of the period, profuse salivation (salivation) appears. The patient cannot swallow saliva; it runs down the chin.

If the patient does not die from cardiac or respiratory arrest, the disease progresses to the terminal period of rabies.

The terminal, or paralytic, period of rabies is characterized by an imaginary improvement in the patient's condition. Hydrophobia disappears, the patient can eat and drink. However, against this background, weakness and apathy are growing; the function of the pelvic organs is impaired; paralysis of the limbs and cranial nerves develops. Death occurs from paralysis of the respiratory center. The total duration of the disease is 3-7 days.

The most terrible wounds come from the bite of a rabid wolf and cat. Dogs become enraged not only from bites from other rabid animals, but also from lack of water during the heat.

Signs of illness in animals: they become irritable, fearful, hide in a dark place, gnaw and swallow inedible things - straw, wood chips, etc.

Then they begin to attack other animals and people, but at first they do not touch the owner. Their voice becomes hoarse and howling. Paralysis of the lower jaw appears, causing the mouth to remain open, the tongue protruding, drooling and foam flowing.

At this time, the animal can no longer drink water due to cramps in the throat. It usually dies on days 5-7, rarely on day 11 with paralysis of the legs.

The time interval between a dog becoming infected with the disease is 3-6 weeks, but sometimes it can be 3-6 days.

The closer to the head the bites are, the sooner the disease begins. But the poison in saliva appears three days before the first signs of the disease are detected. Therefore, in the event of a bite by an unknown dog, even if it appears healthy, you need to get a special rabies vaccination.

In humans, the infection period lasts six weeks, but sometimes extends for several months. In a person who has contracted rabies, there are three periods:

1. The person becomes fearful, has mild nausea, fever with thirst, constipation, and difficulty breathing. The wound from the bite, perhaps long since healed, begins