Symptoms of Rabies
📝 Summary
Prompt rabies vaccination after a bite almost prevents the disease. Broad public education so bite victims get vaccinated early is very important. Rabies exists worldwide and still occurs in China. Because wildlife carry it, it is hard to eradicate, but managing pet dogs greatly lowers incidence.
1 Overview
I. Symptoms of Rabies in Dogs
1. Difficulty eating: during an episode the rabid dog has trouble swallowing and shows extreme excitement; timely medication is needed for control, and the patient must avoid any irritating food.
2. Drooling: a rabid dog drools heavily; avoid bites and contact with its saliva.
3. Fear of light and water. The incubation is usually 2-3 months, but once it strikes the patient fears light and water; keep a quiet room and isolate.
II. Staged Symptoms of Rabies
1. Incubation period.
2. Prodromal period.
3. Excitative period. The patient enters high excitement: very timid, frightened, wakes at night, fears water so much that even hearing the word causes terror and they dare not drink even when thirsty. Eating difficulty comes from throat blockage; severe cases refuse food, have breathing difficulty, suffocate, or die. Usually no attacking; severe cases show confusion and constant crying, lasting about 2-3 days.
4. Paralytic period. The patient becomes quiet but develops limb paralysis: strabismus, immobile eyes, expressionless face.
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