Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWound CarePost-Exposure ProphylaxisSide EffectsFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Rabies GuideWhat Is Rabies?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Wound Care
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Side Effects
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Rabies Guide
Rabiesis a life-threatening virus, but if you’re exposed to it, prompt, effective treatment with certain vaccines can save your life. The most common way for a human to be exposed to rabies is through ananimal bite. If left untreated, the virus triggers deadly inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Cases of rabies in humans are rare, particularly in the United States. In fact, only 23 cases of rabies were reported in humans in the United States from 2008 to 2017.
This article outlines proper wound care for an animal bite. It also covers the steps your healthcare provider will take to minimize your risk of contracting rabies.
Animal bites, though, require immediate medical attention. This is even more important if the bite comes from a wild animal, like a bat, raccoon, fox, or skunk.
Regardless of rabies risk, animal bites can cause serious damage when the wound is severe. For example, bites may lead to local and/or systemic infection and can damage nerves or tendons. Therefore, it’s always important to seek medical treatment after suffering any type of animal bite.
Wound Washing is CrucialFor post-bite first aid, the World Health Organization recommends flushing and washing the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes. This cleaning should include the use of soap and water, and a povidone-iodine solution if it is available.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), animal-based research has shown that thorough wound cleansing alone may significantly reduce the likelihood of developing rabies.Once symptoms set in, however, death from respiratory failure usually occurs within seven days—even if treatment is given.
Wound Washing is Crucial
For post-bite first aid, the World Health Organization recommends flushing and washing the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes. This cleaning should include the use of soap and water, and a povidone-iodine solution if it is available.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), animal-based research has shown that thorough wound cleansing alone may significantly reduce the likelihood of developing rabies.Once symptoms set in, however, death from respiratory failure usually occurs within seven days—even if treatment is given.
For post-bite first aid, the World Health Organization recommends flushing and washing the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes. This cleaning should include the use of soap and water, and a povidone-iodine solution if it is available.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), animal-based research has shown that thorough wound cleansing alone may significantly reduce the likelihood of developing rabies.Once symptoms set in, however, death from respiratory failure usually occurs within seven days—even if treatment is given.
Animal bites require fast, effective treatment, especially if you are unable to confirm that the animal is up to date on its rabies shots. If there’s even a small risk of the animal being rabid, your healthcare provider will take steps to protect you against the virus — a protocol known as post-exposureprophylaxisor PEP.
PEP starts with extensive washing and local treatment of the wound, but also includes doses of rabies vaccine andhuman rabies immune globulin(HRIG).
When given in time, PEP can stop the rabies virus from entering the central nervous system and, in turn, prevent the onset of rabies symptoms. It’s the only treatment strategy known to prevent rabies-related deaths.
Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG)
If you’ve never received a rabies vaccine, you’ll also be given an injection of HRIG. These antibodies are given as soon as possible after the bite.
HRIG allows your body to begin to detect and fight the rabies virus right away. This helps provide protection until your body starts making its own antibodies after getting the vaccine.
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. You may also require a tetanus shot, depending on the date of your last one.
Vaccinations
Verywell / Emily Roberts
The only way to confirm that an animal has rabies is to euthanize the animal and test its brain tissue.If you are unable to locate the animal that bit you, you’ll need to be given additional doses of vaccine to prevent rabies.
The standard dosing schedule for the rabies vaccine is four doses, given over 14 days. The first dose is given as soon as possible as part of the PEP protocol.
There are two rabies vaccines available: RabAvert and Imovax. RabAvert is not recommended for individuals with an egg allergy.
Rabies Vaccine Treatment
Adverse reactions to the rabies vaccine and HRIG aren’t common, but they can happen.Minor reactions at the injection site can include:
In rare cases, patients may experience symptoms like headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, and dizziness.
Before receiving the rabies vaccine, let your healthcare provider know if you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction to a dose of the rabies vaccine. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you have any severe allergies, or if you have a weakened immune system due to a chronic condition or use of certain medication (such as steroids).
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Summary
There is no cure for rabies. Your healthcare provider will take immediate steps to protect you against developing rabies. This includes wound care, human rabies immune globulin for antibodies, and the rabies vaccine.
The guidelines identify three categories of rabies exposure. The first category is defined as “touching or feeding animals, licks on intact skin,” but post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is recommended only for category 2 and category 3 exposure.
The vaccine given to prevent rabies after exposure to the virus is safe and effective for most people, withside effectsthat are similar to those of any vaccine:Symptoms at the injection site such as soreness, redness, swelling, or itchingSystemic side effects including headache, nausea, stomach pain, muscle aches, or dizzinessAfter booster shots, some people develophives, joint pain, or fever. There are few known long-term complications associated with the rabies vaccine. However, there have been rare reports ofGuillain-Barre syndromefollowing the vaccine.
The vaccine given to prevent rabies after exposure to the virus is safe and effective for most people, withside effectsthat are similar to those of any vaccine:
After booster shots, some people develophives, joint pain, or fever. There are few known long-term complications associated with the rabies vaccine. However, there have been rare reports ofGuillain-Barre syndromefollowing the vaccine.
The American Veterinary Medication Association recommends parents and pets:Have all pets that are mammals, including ferrets, livestock, and horses, vaccinated.Keepcatsand ferrets inside; do not allow pets that go outside to run free.Don’t keep wild animals as pets.Never leave food, including pet food, outside, which can attract rabid animals.Bat-proof houses, garages, and other structures.Teach children to steer clear of animals they don’t know, even those that seem tame. Rabies doesn’t always cause animals to act strangely.
The American Veterinary Medication Association recommends parents and pets:
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Human Rabies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bats Lead in U.S. Rabies Risk.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies around the World.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Vaccine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP).U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Information for diagnostic laboratories.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Vaccine Information Statement.World Health Organization.WHO announces new rabies recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies VIS.Rabies vacccine: What you need to know.American Veterinary Medical Association.Rabies and your pet.Additional ReadingNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Vaccines.Salve H, Kumar S, Sa R, Rai SK, Kant S, Pandav CS.Feasibility of sustainable provision of intradermal post exposure prophylaxis against rabies at primary care level–evidence from rural Haryana.BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Jun 25;14:278. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-14-278World Health Organization.Frequently Asked Questions on Rabies.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Human Rabies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bats Lead in U.S. Rabies Risk.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies around the World.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Vaccine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP).U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Information for diagnostic laboratories.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Vaccine Information Statement.World Health Organization.WHO announces new rabies recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies VIS.Rabies vacccine: What you need to know.American Veterinary Medical Association.Rabies and your pet.Additional ReadingNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Vaccines.Salve H, Kumar S, Sa R, Rai SK, Kant S, Pandav CS.Feasibility of sustainable provision of intradermal post exposure prophylaxis against rabies at primary care level–evidence from rural Haryana.BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Jun 25;14:278. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-14-278World Health Organization.Frequently Asked Questions on Rabies.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Human Rabies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bats Lead in U.S. Rabies Risk.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies around the World.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Vaccine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP).U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Information for diagnostic laboratories.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Vaccine Information Statement.World Health Organization.WHO announces new rabies recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies VIS.Rabies vacccine: What you need to know.American Veterinary Medical Association.Rabies and your pet.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Human Rabies.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bats Lead in U.S. Rabies Risk.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies around the World.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Vaccine.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP).
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Information for diagnostic laboratories.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies Vaccine Information Statement.
World Health Organization.WHO announces new rabies recommendations.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies VIS.Rabies vacccine: What you need to know.
American Veterinary Medical Association.Rabies and your pet.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Vaccines.Salve H, Kumar S, Sa R, Rai SK, Kant S, Pandav CS.Feasibility of sustainable provision of intradermal post exposure prophylaxis against rabies at primary care level–evidence from rural Haryana.BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Jun 25;14:278. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-14-278World Health Organization.Frequently Asked Questions on Rabies.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Vaccines.
Salve H, Kumar S, Sa R, Rai SK, Kant S, Pandav CS.Feasibility of sustainable provision of intradermal post exposure prophylaxis against rabies at primary care level–evidence from rural Haryana.BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Jun 25;14:278. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-14-278
World Health Organization.Frequently Asked Questions on Rabies.
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