What Are The Symptoms Of Rabies? Symptoms in Humans and Cats – Symptoms of rabies in humans can be identified by several signs. Rabies is a virus that is usually spread by animal bites or claws. According to WHO, this infection causes tens of thousands of deaths each year, especially in Asia and Africa. 40% of people bitten by rabies animals are children under 15 years of age.
After getting bites or claws, symptoms of rabies in humans do not appear immediately. Symptoms of rabies in humans will clearly emerge as the virus passes through the central nervous system and on the brain. Symptoms of rabies in humans can be identified through early signs before the virus hits the nervous system.
What Are The Symptoms Of Rabies in Human?
The symptoms of rabies usually appear approximately 4-12 weeks after a person is bitten by a rabies virus-infected animal. The time before the emergence of rabies symptoms is called the incubation period. In some cases, the incubation period can occur sooner or later.
Early symptoms of rabies include:
Tingling
After being bitten by an animal carrier rabies, usually one will not immediately feel the obvious symptoms. Only after a few days, some of the symptoms begin to emerge and begin with a tingling sensation in the place of the bite. People infected with rabies virus will also feel itching, even sore in the part that is attacked by virus carrier animals.
Flu-like symptoms
The bad news, the early symptoms of rabies are often misinterpreted as flu symptoms because they are similar in nature. In the early days, infections of rabies to humans could present symptoms, such as high fever, chills, easy to feel tired, muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty sleeping at night. Some other flu-like symptoms may occur, if not treated immediately, these mild symptoms can turn into poorer conditions and cause worsening conditions.
Fever and Headache
The next early symptoms of rabies in human is a fever that appears along with headaches for 2 to 4 days.
Decreased appetite
Decreased appetite due to nausea and vomiting will interfere with the intake required by the body.
Throat disorders
Difficulty when swallowing becomes one of the early symptoms of rabies in humans due to stiff neck so it feels pain when swallowing.
Other early symptoms
- Limp
- Pain in bite scars
Because the early symptoms of rabies have similarities with flu symptoms, making many patients difficult to distinguish, It would be better to immediately conduct a medical examination if bitten by an animal suspected of carrying a rabies virus.
Rabies sufferers may also experience the advanced symptoms. Patients who have reached this stage will show signs of hyperactivity, passionate, or even acting unclear. These advanced symptoms arise when the virus has attacked the central nervous system. Further symptoms in question include:
Anxiety
When a person has rabies it will often look anxious, confusion can even turn out to be aggressive.
This anxiety can also lead to prolonged sleep disorder (insomnia).
Fear of water
The next symptom is excessive fear of touching or consuming water (hydrophobia).
Hydrophobias is the desire to swallow fluid that results in the pain of the pharynx and laryngeal muscles that can cause the aspiration of fluid into the trachea.
Other advanced symptoms:
- Hallucinations
- Excessive saliva production
- Shortness of breath.
When rabies sufferers experience the advanced symptoms, it is shown that the condition has worsened. Furthermore, rabies suffered can cause paralysis, coma, and then pass away.
What Are The Symptoms Of Rabies in Cats?
For cat owners, note the symptoms of rabies that may be able to attack your pets at any time.
Behavioral changes
Note the nature of cats will change if already infected with rabies, because their nerves are already attacked. Usually rabies infected animals, including cats will become more aggressive. The rabies cat will be like to bite and attack anything that moves, including the owner.
Cats seen experiencing dehydration, but afraid of water
Rabies disease is a category of diseases that have a tendency to fear water or hydrophobia. Giving water to drink rabies cat that is thirsty, will give the impact of muscle spasms. This is because rabies viruses attack the central nervous and the brain, causing interference when conducting all activities.
Loss of appetite in Rabies cats
Symptoms of rabies infected with cats can be characterized by the disappearance of daily appetite. Rabies cats will lose their appetite and look skinny, aloof, often experiencing muscle spasms.
Restless and lethargic every day
Cats will also be easily troubled, such anxiety without any special cause. The cat will look fussy and cannot calm down, sometimes appear seizures and aggressive. If your pet cat becomes like this, you have to take a vigilant stance and immediately consult a veterinarian.
Read also:
Dog Vaccinations: The Types, Age, and How To Give It
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