How long does it take for rabies to develop after being bitten by a dog or cat? How does the rabies virus progress in the body? These are common questions.
Information recommended by the Department of Preventive Health, Ministry of Health.
Rabies is a disease caused by an acute viral infection in the central nervous system, transmitted from animals to humans through secretions, usually saliva containing the rabies virus. Once rabies symptoms appear, both animals and humans have a 100% fatality rate.
How does rabies develop in the human body?
After entering the human body, the rabies virus proliferates from the innermost layer of subcutaneous tissue or from muscle into peripheral nerves, which are the nerves located outside the brain or spinal cord.
The virus travels along the nerves to the spinal cord and brain at an estimated speed of about 12-24 mm per day.
Infected individuals may experience behavioral changes and clinical symptoms as the virus begins to invade the brain. The incubation period can last from a few days to several months, and may extend up to a year or even several years.
The incubation period can range from a few days to several months.
What factors affect the development of rabies?
Factors that may influence the progression of rabies infection include:
- Type of exposure.
- Severity of the bite.
- Amount of rabies virus entering the body.
- Type of animal that inflicted the bite.
- Patient’s immune status.
- Location of the bite; wounds on the head and neck, as well as those in areas with dense nerve endings like fingers, generally have a shorter incubation period due to the closer proximity for the virus to enter nerve tissue.
How to treat a bite wound?
A person bitten by an animal should take the following steps:
- Wash the wound with soap and running water for about 10-15 minutes. If soap is unavailable, the wound can be rinsed with clean water under continuous running water for 15 minutes. This is the most effective first aid method against rabies.
- The wound should be thoroughly cleaned with 70% alcohol or iodine.
- Immediately take the patient to a healthcare facility for treatment as soon as possible.
What should not be done for an animal bite?
- Avoid using irritants on the wound such as chili powder, plant sap, acids, or alkalis.
- Do not bandage or apply dressings tightly to the wound.
How long does it take for rabies to manifest and how long can an infected animal live?
The incubation period can last from a few days to several months, while the period from the onset of symptoms to death can range from one to seven days.
Is it enough to monitor the animal that caused the bite for 10 days without treatment?
In countries where rabies is prevalent in the dog and cat population, it is mandatory to treat and monitor the animal for 10 days.
If the animal remains healthy during the observation period, the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) regimen can be switched to a pre-exposure prophylaxis regimen for the bitten individual. This means that vaccination will prevent rabies for that person if bitten again in the future.
