[imran şimşek]

imran şimşek asked the Naked Scientists:

I want to ask you a questıon about rabies.

A dog bit us; so when does rabies virus effect us? How many days? And what can we do?

What do you think?

[Bored chemist]

Go and see a doctor.

[Karen W.]

It won't effect you as far as Rabies, unless the Dog was Rabid?? Although you could get an infection from the bite also, so medical help is a good idea no matter what!

Did the dog have active signs..?

Regardless foaming at mouth etc..obviously he was hostile..

Do you know the dog and is it possible to take the dog to a vet to be tested.....or checked?

Is he a pet, with an owner who may have shot records for the pet?

Do you have access to a Doctor, because as Bored Chemist said, you need to be seen by the Doctor..

[chris]

Timing is critical. The incubation period for rabies is about 6 weeks (range 2 weeks to 3 months), but can be as long as 12 years (in one documented case). In general, the closer a bite is to the head the shorter the incubation period.

The disease is caused by rabies virus which spreads in the body fluids and is usually transmitted by the bite of an infected animal.

The virus initially replicates (grows) at the site in inoculation (bite) before gaining entry to nerve fibres at the wound site and travelling to the central nervous system where it causes an encephalitis characterised by disorientation, altered behaviour, confusion and coma. It's invariably fatal.

However, prompt action can prevent it.

First, as Karen suggests, do you know the outcome for the dog? Is it still alive? Was it wild or domestic? Had it suddenly been behaving strangely having previously been normal?

Second, where was the bite and did it break the skin? The risk is much higher if skin was punctured.

Third, see a doctor urgently. A course of rabies diploid cell vaccine should be given at 0, 3, 7, 14 and 30 days after exposure. At the same time human anti-rabies globulin (HRIg) 20 IU/kg should be administered 50% to the wound site and 50% IM.

Good luck

Chris