Overview
Rabies is caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. People usually get it after being bitten or scratched by an infected animal, or if infected saliva gets into the eyes, mouth, or an open wound. Rabies occurs in many parts of the world, especially where dog rabies is not fully controlled. The disease is preventable with rapid care after exposure.
Key Symptoms
Early symptoms may be vague and can include fever, headache, weakness, or tingling and pain near the bite area. As the disease progresses, symptoms can include anxiety, confusion, trouble swallowing, agitation, paralysis, and fear triggered by trying to drink water. Once symptoms appear, the illness quickly becomes severe. Symptoms can begin days to months after exposure.
Causes and Risk Factors
Rabies is caused by the rabies virus. The main risk is contact with saliva or nervous tissue from an infected animal, most often through a bite. Risk is higher in places where animal vaccination is limited, where stray dogs are common, or where people work closely with animals. Bat exposures are also important in some countries, even when a bite is not noticed.
Who Is Affected
Anyone can get rabies after an exposure, but some groups have higher risk. Children may be at higher risk because they may play with animals and may not report bites or scratches. Travelers to areas where rabies is common, veterinarians, animal handlers, laboratory workers, and some wildlife workers can also face increased risk. People living in rural areas may have delayed access to urgent care.
Prevention
Avoid touching unfamiliar dogs, cats, bats, and wild animals. Vaccinating dogs and other pets helps protect households and communities. If you are bitten or scratched, wash the area right away with lots of soap and running water and seek urgent medical care. Some people with ongoing higher risk may be advised by a healthcare professional to get rabies vaccination before any exposure.
Diagnosis and Tests
After a possible exposure, a healthcare professional assesses the type of animal, the kind of contact, and whether the animal can be observed or tested. There is no simple test that can reliably rule out rabies right after a bite in a person without symptoms. If someone has symptoms, diagnosis may involve several tests on saliva, skin, spinal fluid, or blood, along with a clinical evaluation. Public health authorities may also guide animal testing and exposure decisions.
Treatment Categories
After an exposure but before symptoms start, treatment may include careful wound cleaning, rabies vaccination, and in some cases rabies immune globulin, based on the exposure and vaccination history. This is called post-exposure prevention and should begin as soon as possible. If symptoms of rabies have already started, care is usually intensive and focused on life support and comfort, because the disease is almost always fatal. Decisions about treatment should be made urgently with medical and public health professionals.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek medical care right away after any bite or scratch from a dog, cat, bat, monkey, or wild mammal, or if animal saliva gets into your eyes, mouth, or an open wound. Get urgent advice even if the wound seems small or you are not sure whether a bite happened, especially with bats. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. Also contact local animal control or public health services if available.
When It May Be an Emergency
It may be an emergency if a person develops confusion, trouble swallowing, severe agitation, paralysis, breathing problems, or other nervous system symptoms after an animal exposure. Emergency care is also needed for deep wounds, heavy bleeding, injuries to the face or neck, or if the person is very young, older, pregnant, or has a weakened immune system. In these situations, seek immediate emergency help.