Rabies & Your Child

Rabies is a dangerous viral infection of the nervous system usually caused by a bite from an infected animal. Symptoms usually appear a month after initial contamination.

What are the Symptoms of Rabies?

There are 3 stages of symptoms, each stage progressively becoming more dangerous to your child's health and possibly leading to death.The first stage is called the prodromal period. The symptoms include: fever, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, cough, fatigue, and a tingling sensation around the bite. These symptoms usually last 1-4 days.

The second stage consists of symptoms that are similar to encephalitis(inflammation of the brain). Sometimes the patient may exhibit a fever of up to 105 degress fahrenheit, and/or symptoms of irritability, excessive agitation, confusion, hallucination, agression, muscle spasm, abnormal posture, convulsions, weakness/paralysis, aversion to bright light, sound and/or touch, increased production of saliva or tears and paralysis of the vocal cords.

The last stage of the disease is exhibited by symptoms that are reflective of the progressing crumbling of the nervous system. They include double vision, inability to control facial muscles, inability to control the diaphragm (i.e. breathing), and difficulty swallowing. It is the loss of control in swallowing that causes the "foaming at the mouth", which is so recognizable in rabies. Also in this stage, the patient can slip into a coma and cease breathing. Death is usually imminent after this point, coming within 4 - 20 days from initial symptoms begin.

Is it Contagious?

Rabies is not contagious in human to human form. It is extremely contagious from animal to human, usually through a scratch or bite, transmitted through saliva. Early diagnosis is crucial to the survival of the patient, especially a child. If left untreated, survival is extremely slim, so if you suspect contamination, rush your child to the hospital for care immediately.