RABIES(Hydrophobia,Lysaa)

Rabies is an acute viral encephalomyelitis caused by the rabies virus, a

rhabdovirus of the genus lyssavirus. It is fatal once signs and symptoms appear. There
are two kinds: urban or canine rabies is transmitted by dogs while Sylva tic rabies is a
disease of wild animals and bats which sometimes spread to dogs, cats and livestock.

The Philippines has one of the highest prevalence rates of rabies in the world.

Mode of transmission:
• Bites of a rabid animal whose saliva has the virus
• Scratch or in a fresh breaks in the skin(very rare)
• Organ transplant (corneal) taken from a dying person, diagnosed central
nervous system disease have resulted in rabies in the recipients.

Incubation Period: The usual incubation period is 2 to 8 weeks. It can be as long as a

year or several years depending on the severity of the wounds, site of the wound as
distance from the brain. Amount of virus introduced and protection provided by
clothing.

Period of Communicability: in dogs and cats, for 3 to 10 days before onset of

clinical signs (rarely over 3 days) and throughout the duration of the disease.

Susceptibility and resistance: All warm-blooded mammals are susceptible. Natural

immunity in man is unknown.

Signs and symptoms

• Sense of apprehension
• Headache
• Fever
• Sensory change near site of animal bite
• Spasms of muscles of deglutition on attempts to swallow (fear of
water/hydrophobia)
• Paralysis
• Delirium and convulsions

The usual duration is 2 to 6 days without medical intervention. Death often due to
respiratory paralysis.

Management

The wound must be immediately and thoroughly washed with soap and water.
Antiseptics such as povidone iodine or alcohol may be applied.

The patients may be given antibiotics and anti-tetanus immunization.

If the dog is apparently healthy, observe the dog for 14 days. If it dies or shows signs
suggestive of rabies, consult a physician.
If dog shows signs suggestive of rabies, kill the dog immediately and bring head for
laboratory examination.

Submit for immunization while waiting for results.

If dog is not available for observation (killed, died or stray), submit for immunization.

Post-exposure treatment is given to persons who are exposed to rabies. It consists

of local wound treatment, active immunization (vaccination) and passive
immunization (administration of rabies immunoglobulin).

Active immunization or vaccination aims to induce the body to develop antibodies

against rabies up to 3 years.

Passive immunization: the process of giving an antibody to person with (head and
neck bites, multiple single deep bites, contamination of mucous membranes or thin
coverings of the eyes,lips,mouth) in order to provide immediate protection against
rabies which should be administered within the first seven days of active
immunization. The effect of the immunoglobulin is only short term.

Allan Vincent A. David

Grp. 5
San Beda College
College of Nursing