Rabies

Subject: Community Health Nursing II

Overview

Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: violent movements, uncontrolled excitement, fear of water, an inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and loss of consciousness.

Rabies

Rabies is a viral infection that causes acute brain inflammation in humans and other mammals. Fever and tingling at the site of exposure are common early symptoms. Following these symptoms are one or more of the following: violent movements, uncontrollable excitement, fear of water, inability to move parts of the body, confusion, and loss of consciousness. When symptoms appear, the outcome is almost always death. The time between contracting the disease and the onset of symptoms is usually one to three months; however, this time can range from less than a week to more than a year. The time depends on how far the virus has to travel to reach the central nervous system.

PHC Issue

In 1967, the human diploid cell rabies vaccine was developed. Purified chicken embryo cell vaccine and purified Vero cell rabies vaccine are now available at a lower cost. V-RG, a recombinant vaccine, has been used to prevent rabies outbreaks in unvaccinated animals in Belgium, France, Germany, and the United States. Immunization before exposure has been used in both human and nonhuman populations, where domesticated animals are required to be vaccinated, as is the case in many jurisdictions.

Due to widespread vaccination of domestic H dogs and cats, as well as the development of human vaccines and immunoglobulin treatments, the number of recorded human deaths from rabies in the United States has decreased from 100 or more per year in the early twentieth century to one or two per year. The majority of deaths are now caused by bat bites, which may go unnoticed by the victim and thus go untreated.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Communicable Disease Surveillance 2007 Annual Report, the following measures can help reduce the risk of contracting rabies:

  • rabies vaccination for dogs, cats, and ferrets
  • Keeping pets under control
  • Not handling wild or stray animals
  • Contacting an animal control officer if you see a wild or stray animal, especially if the animal is acting strangely.
  • If bitten by an animal, clean the wound with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes before contacting a health care provider to see if post-exposure prophylaxis is necessary.

 

 

REFERENCE

HealthLine. 2005. 2017 http://www.healthline.com/health/rabies

Dr.Suwal S.N. & Tuitui R. (2063) A Textbook of Community Health Nursing, 1st edition, Vidyarthi Prakashan (P). Ltd. Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu

MedicineNet. 1996. 2017 http://www.medicinenet.com/rabies_virus/article.htm

Tuitui, Roshani. Community Health Nursing. Kathmandu: Vidyarthi Prakashan (P.)

NHS Choice. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rabies/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Ambika Rai, Kabita Dahal. Community Health Nursing II. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2012 (reprint).

Things to remember
  • Rabies is a viral infection that causes acute brain inflammation in humans and other mammals.
  • Fever and tingling at the site of exposure are common early symptoms.
  • When symptoms appear, the outcome is almost always death.
  • The time between contracting the disease and the onset of symptoms is usually one to three months; however, this time can range from less than a week to more than a year.
Questions and Answers

Avian rabies is a disease. It results in acute brain inflammation in both humans and other species. Fever and tingling at the exposure site are some early signs. The following symptoms may appear after these ones: erratic behavior, uncontrollable elation, dread of water, inability to move certain body parts, bewilderment, and loss of consciousness. When symptoms start, the outcome is almost usually death. Typically, it takes one to three months from the time of infection until symptoms appear; however, this time frame can range from less than a week to more than a year. Depending on how far the virus must travel to reach the central nervous system, the time will vary.

PHC Issue

In 1967, work on the human diploid cell rabies vaccine began. There are now pure vero cell rabies vaccine and purified chicken embryo cell vaccination that are less costly. To stop rabies epidemics in untamed animals, the V-RG recombinant vaccination has been employed in Belgium, France, Germany, and the US. Both human and nonhuman populations, when domesticated animals must be immunized as is the case in many countries, have benefited from immunization prior to exposure.

Because domestic dogs and cats are routinely immunized, as well as because human vaccines and immunoglobulin treatments have been developed, the number of documented human deaths from rabies in the United States has decreased from 100 or more annually in the early 20th century to one or two each year.  Most deaths now result from bat bites, which may go unnoticed by the victim and hence untreated.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Communicable Disease Surveillance 2007 Annual Report states the following can help reduce the risk of contracting rabies:

  • Rabies vaccinations for cats, dogs, and ferrets.
  • Keeping animals with a watchful eye.
  • Avoiding touching strays or wild animals.
  • When you see a wild animal or stray, call an animal control officer, especially if the animal is acting strangely.
  • If you have been bitten by an animal, you should wash the wound with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes before contacting a doctor to see if post-exposure prophylaxis is necessary.

Avian rabies is a disease. It results in acute brain inflammation in both humans and other species. Fever and tingling at the exposure site are some early signs. The following symptoms may appear after these ones: erratic behavior, uncontrollable elation, dread of water, inability to move certain body parts, bewilderment, and loss of consciousness. When symptoms start, the outcome is almost usually death. Typically, it takes one to three months from the time of infection until symptoms appear; however, this time frame can range from less than a week to more than a year. Depending on how far the virus needs travel to reach the central nervous system, the time will vary.

PHC Issue

In 1967, work on the human diploid cell rabies vaccine began. There are now purified vero cell rabies vaccine and purified chicken embryo cell vaccination that are less expensive. To stop rabies outbreaks in untamed animals, the V-RG recombinant vaccination has been employed in Belgium, France, Germany, and the US. Both human and nonhuman populations, when domesticated animals must be immunized as is the case in many jurisdictions, have benefited from immunization prior to exposure.

Because domestic dogs and cats are routinely immunized, as well as because human vaccines and immunoglobulin treatments have been developed, the number of documented human deaths from rabies in the United States has decreased from 100 or more annually in the early 20th century to one or two each year. Bat bites, which may go missed by the victim and hence go untreated, are now the leading cause of death.

According to the Communicable Disease Surveillance 2007 Annual Report from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the following measures can help lower the risk of developing rabies:

  • Rabies vaccinations for cats, dogs, and ferrets
  • Keeping animals with a watchful eye
  • Avoiding handling strays or wild animals
  • When you see a wild animal or stray, call an animal control officer, especially if the animal is acting suspiciously.
  • If you have been bitten by an animal, you should wash the wound with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes before consulting a doctor to see if post-exposure prophylaxis is necessary.

Avian rabies is one sickness. As a result, acute brain inflammation is experienced by both humans and other organisms. Fever and tingling at the exposure site are among the early signs. These symptoms may be followed by erratic behavior, extreme elation, a dread of water, the inability to move particular body parts, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Almost usually, when symptoms arise, death follows. It normally takes one to three months from the time of infection until symptoms manifest; however, this time frame can range from less than a week to more than a year. How long it takes for the virus to penetrate the central nervous system depends on how far it has to go.

PHC Issue

The development of a human diploid cell rabies vaccine began in 1967. Pure vero cells and chicken embryo cells are presently used to create less expensive rabies vaccines. In order to stop rabies outbreaks in wild animals, the V-RG recombinant vaccine has been used in Belgium, France, Germany, and the US. Both human and nonhuman populations have benefited from vaccination prior to exposure when domesticated animals must be vaccinated, as is the case in many jurisdictions.

Due to routine immunization programs for domestic dogs and cats, as well as the development of human vaccines and immunoglobulin treatments, the number of documented human deaths from rabies in the United States has decreased from 100 or more annually in the early 20th century to one or two each year. Bat bites, which can go missed by the victim and hence go untreated, are currently the leading cause of mortality.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' Communicable Disease Surveillance 2007 Annual Report, the following behaviors can aid in lowering the risk of developing rabies:

  • Rabies vaccinations for cats, dogs, and ferrets
  • The close observation of creatures
  • Avoiding handling wild or stray animals
  • If you come across a stray or feral animal, especially if it is acting strangely, call an animal control officer.
  • After an animal bite, you should see a doctor to see if post-exposure prophylaxis is necessary after cleaning the wound with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes.

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