is an infection caused by a virus. This virus is almost always fatal unless it is treated before symptoms appear. It affects the central nervous system.
People usually get rabies through a bite or scratch from an infected animal. Wild animals in the US that commonly carry the virus include bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes. Dogs, cats, and other domestic animals can also carry the disease. The rabies virus is found in the saliva, brain, or nervous tissue of infected animals. In the US, rabies in humans is rare. It is more common in other countries.
Rabies symptoms include: Flu-like
symptoms, such as headache, fever, and fatiguePain, tingling, or itching at the site of the bite wound or other site of viral entryAn increase in salivaSeizuresPainful spasms and contractions of the throat when swallowingErratic, excited, or bizarre behaviorParalysis
Symptoms may not appear for weeks or months after a bite.
If an animal has bitten you, wash the wound with soap and water right away. Call your doctor or go to the emergency room.
The vaccine is made from killed rabies virus. It is given by injection.
There are 2 reasons someone should get the rabies vaccines: Preventive vaccinationVaccination after exposure
This is for people at high risk of exposure to rabies, such as: Veterinarians and animal handlersRabies laboratory workersPeople who explore cavesTravelers who may come in contact with rabid animals
The preventive vaccine is given in 3 doses. The second dose is given 7 days after the first dose. The third dose is given 21 or 28 days after the first dose. People who may be exposed to the virus a lot should be tested for immunity on a periodic basis. Booster doses may be needed.
This vaccination is given to anyone who has been bitten by an animal or was exposed to rabies. This treatment includes 4 doses of rabies vaccine. One dose is given right away. Three more doses are given on the third, seventh, and fourteenth days. A shot of rabies-specific immune globulin (RIG) should be given along with the first dose. Two doses are given for people who have been vaccinated before. One dose is given right away and another is given on the third day. RIG is not needed for people who have already had the vaccine.
Like any vaccine, the rabies vaccine can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of serious harm or death is extremely small.
The most commonly reported problems include: Soreness, redness, swelling, or itching around the injection siteHeadacheNauseaAbdominal painMuscle achesLightheadednessHivesPain in the jointsFever
Rarely, an illness similar to
and other nervous system disorders have been reported with the vaccine.
Talk with your doctor before being vaccinated if you: Had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of rabies vaccine or one of its parts
Have a weakened immune system from a disease, drug use, or
cancerAre ill—Wait until you recover to get the preventive vaccine. If you have been exposed to rabies, you should get the vaccine right away.
Here are some ways to prevent rabies: Vaccinate house pets.Avoid contact with wild animals.Do not touch any wild animal, even if it appears to be dead.Seal basement, porch, and attic openings. This will prevent an animal from getting into your home.Report animals that act strangely or look sick to animal control authorities.
Rabies symptoms in animals may include: Strange behavior (often overly aggressive or vicious)Disorientation (such as nocturnal animals such as a bat or fox appearing in the daylight)
In the event of an outbreak, authorities will identify and control the source of the outbreak. They will increase how often they monitor wild and domestic animals. Steps will be taken to increase animal rabies vaccination rates. Safety education will be provided to the public.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Malerczyk C, Detora L, et al. Imported human rabies cases in Europe, the
United States, and Japan, 1990 to 2010.
J Travel Med. 2011;18(6):402-407.
McGettigan JP. Experimental rabies vaccines for humans.
Expert Rev Vaccines. 2010;9(10):1177-1186.
Rabies. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated October 13, 2014. Accessed November 3, 2014.
Rabies. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/rabies. Updated September 24, 2013. Accessed November 3, 2014.
Rabies VIS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/rabies.html. Updated June 18, 2013. Accessed November 3, 2014.
3/26/2010 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: Use of a reduced (4-dose) vaccine schedule for postexposure prophylaxis to prevent human rabies.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.
Last reviewed December 2014 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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