The rabies virus travels to the brain by following the peripheral nerves . The incubation period of the disease is usually a few months in humans, depending on the distance the virus must travel to reach the central nervous system . Once the rabies virus reaches the central nervous system and symptoms begin to show, the infection is virtually untreatable and usually fatal within days.

Early-stage symptoms of rabies are malaise , headache and fever , progressing to acute pain , violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, depression , and hydrophobia.Finally, the patient may experience periods of mania and lethargy , eventually leading to coma . The primary cause of death is usually respiratory insufficiency .

The period between infection and the first flu-like symptoms is typically 2 to 12 weeks, but incubation periods as short as four days and longer than six years have been documented, depending on the location and severity of the inoculating woundand the amount of virus introduced. Soon after, the symptoms expand to slight or partial paralysis , anxiety , insomnia , confusion , agitation , abnormal behavior, paranoia , terror, and hallucinations , progressing to delirium . Rabies has been called hydrophobia because victims, locally paralyzed and unable to swallow, have been known to become agitated at the sight of water.

Death almost invariably results 2 to 10 days after first symptoms. Once symptoms have presented, survival is rare, even with the administration of proper and intensive care.

the following can help reduce the risk of exposure to rabies: *. Vaccinating dogs, cats, rabbits, and ferrets against rabies *. Keeping pets under supervision *. Not handling wild animals or strays *. Contacting an animal control officer upon observing a wild animal or a stray, especially if the animal is acting strangely *. Washing the wound with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes,if bitten by an animal, and contacting a healthcare provider to determine if postexposure prophylaxis is required

Treatment after exposure is highly successful in preventing the disease if administered promptly, in general within 10 days of infection.Thoroughly washing the wound as soon as possible with soap and water for approximately five minutes is very effective in reducing the number of viral particles. "If available, a virucidal antiseptic such as povidone-iodine, iodine tincture , aqueous iodine solution, or alcohol (ethanol) should be applied after washing. Exposed mucous membranes such as eyes, nose or mouth should be flushed well with water."

Report to nearest hospital or healthcare centre or any medical professionalist as soon as possible for the patients receive one dose of human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) and four doses of rabies vaccine .

The first dose of rabies vaccine is given as soon as possible after exposure, with additional doses on days three, seven and 14 after the first. Patients who have previously received pre-exposure vaccination do not receive the immunoglobulin, only the postexposure vaccinations on days 0 and 2. Intramuscular vaccination shouldbe given into the deltoid, not gluteal area, which has been associated with vaccination failure due to injection into fat rather than muscle. In infants, the lateral thigh is used as for routine childhood vaccinations.

(tnx) for sharing very useful & important information. Most of the people don't take it seriously.

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We should all be careful in handling pets