Warning Signs Of Rabies

Rabies usually occurs due to a bite from a wild mammal such as a raccoon, fox, bat, skunk, or stray dog. The virus spreads through the saliva. Any mammal, including humans, may contract the illness. The disease is preventable even though it is a virus. The damaging virus attacks the central nervous system, causing brain damage and eventually death if the rabies infection is not treated. Initially, the disease exhibits certain flu-like symptoms. If not addressed, rabies symptoms advance to insomnia, anxiety, partial paralysis, hallucinations, excess saliva (drooling), trouble swallowing, and fear of water. The rabid individual dies within days of the last symptoms occurring. Get to know the warning signs now.

Flu-Like Symptoms

The first symptoms of rabies resemble the flu. They include feeling weak or uncomfortable, a fever, and a headache. The area around the bite may itch or feel prickly too. These symptoms last for several days before they move from this early acute period to the more serious, clinical period. The acute time of rabies lasts from two to ten days. It is crucial for a person with suspected rabies to be treated during the initial, or acute, period of the disease. When rabies reaches the more advanced, or clinical, period, the chances of the patient surviving are very limited. So, if a person has recently been bitten by a mammal and starts exhibiting flu-like symptoms, it is imperative to receive medical care as soon as possible.

Keep reading to learn more about detecting rabies.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are unusual or distorted sensory experience caused by stress or illness. These sensory distortions happen because the mechanism that distinguishes the aspects of the senses from memory-based perception is not working correctly or misfire due to rabies, other diseases, drug use, or mental and physical illnesses. Any of the senses can be affected by these false feelings. Individuals with rabies commonly experience this unique sensory experience. They may hear sounds that aren’t there, or they may have visual abnormalities where they see objects or people no one else can see. False sensory events may also occur including feeling like something is crawling on their skin when nothing is on their body.

Uncover the next sign of rabies now.