INTRODUCTION

Rabies = is an acute viral encephalomyelitis caused by the rabies virus, a rhabdovirus of the genus lyssavirus. Zit is fatal once signs and symptoms appear

ETIOLOGY
y Dogs

There are two kinds: urban or canine rabies. y Cats y Bats y Any wild animals

MODE OF TRANSMISSION
y Usually by bites of a rabid animal whose saliva has the virus. The virus may alsobe introduced into a scratch or in fresh breaks in the skin(very rare). Transmission from man to man is possible. Airborne spread in a cave with millions of bats have occurred, although rarely.

y transmitted by the dogs while sylvatic rabies is a disease of a wild animals and bats which is sometimes spread to dogs and livestock

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

y Sense of apprehensions y Headache y Fever y Sensory change near site of animal bite y Spasms of muscles of deglutition on attempt to swallow (hydrophobia) y Paralysis y Delirium and convulsions.

PREVENTION
You can reduce the chances that your family is exposed to rabies. y Vaccinate your pets dogs, cats, and ferrets can be infected by rabies. y Report any stray animals to your local health authorities or animal-control officer. Remind kids that animals can be "strangers," too.

y They should never touch or feed stray

cats or dogs wandering in the neighborhood or elsewhere.

As a precaution against rabies or any other infections, call your doctor if: y child has been exposed to an animal that might have rabies, but is too young to describe the contact with the animal

y child has been exposed to bats, even if there is no bite y you plan to travel abroad and may come into contact with rabid animals, particularly if you're traveling to an area where you might not have access to health care

MANAGEMENT
If you are bitten by an animal, take the following steps right away: y Wash the bite area with soap and water for 10 minutes and cover the bite with a clean bandage. y Immediately call your doctor and go to a nearby emergency department. Anyone with a possible rabies infection must be treated in a hospital. y Call local animal-control authorities to help find the animal that caused the bite. The animal may need to be detained and observed for signs of rabies.

y If you know the owner of the animal that has bitten

you, get all the information about the animal, including vaccination status and the owner's name and address. Notify your local health department, particularly if the animal hasn't been vaccinated. y If you suspect that your child has been bitten by an unknown dog, bat, rat, or other animal, contact your doctor immediately or take your child to the emergency department.