Can you get rabies without direct contact?
People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal. It is also possible, but rare, for people to get rabies from non-bite exposures, which can include scratches, abrasions, or open wounds that are exposed to saliva or other potentially infectious material from a rabid animal.
How worried should I be about rabies?
If you are unsure, seek medical advice to be safe.) Remember that rabies is a medical urgency but not an emergency. Decisions should not be delayed. See your doctor for attention for any trauma due to an animal attack before considering the need for rabies vaccination.
What happens if a person gets rabies?
As the disease progresses, the person may experience delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia. The acute period of disease typically ends after 2 to 10 days. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the disease is nearly always fatal, and treatment is typically supportive.
Can you get rabies from non-bites?
Nonbite. Nonbite exposures from terrestrial animals rarely cause rabies. However, occasional reports of rabies transmission by nonbite exposures suggest that such exposures should be evaluated for possible postexposure prophylaxis administration. Other contact by itself, such as petting a rabid animal and contact with blood, urine,…
What is not considered an exposure to rabies?
Casual contact, such as touching a person with rabies or contact with non-infectious fluid or tissue (urine, blood, feces) does not constitute an exposure and does not require postexposure prophylaxis.
When should I go to the doctor for rabies?
Once a person is infected, there is not much a doctor can do to treat it. If a dog, cat, bat, or other mammal you might suspect has rabies has bitten you, get to the doctor. The first dose of the vaccine should be administered within the first 24 hours after exposure.
Should I be worried about rabies in dogs and cats?
In terms of dogs and cats, if it’s an animal where you don’t know the dog or you can’t observe it, you don’t know if it’s had its shots, those are also animals where absolutely we worried about rabies and we treat you potentially to prevent a rabies infection.