Rabies

RABIES
Rabies is a viral disease that
causes acute encephalitis (inflammation
of the brain) in warm-blooded animals.
It is zoonotic (i.e., transmitted by
animals), most commonly by a bite
from an infected animal but
occasionally by other forms of contact.
It is also called hydrophobia or
Lyssa.
 Etiologic agent

Rhabdovirus it is a bullet-
shaped filterable virus with strong
affinity to CNS.
Etiologic agent: RHABDOVIRUS
 Incubation period

1. One week to seven and a

half months in dog.
2.Ten days to one year in
human
3. Incubation period depends on the
following factors:
– Distance of bite to the brain
– Extensive to the bite
– Specie of the animals
– Richness of the nerve supply in
the area of the bite
– Resistance of the host
Period of communicability

The client is communicable from

three to five days before onset of
symptoms until the entire course of
illness.
 Mode of transmission

An infected animal carries the

virus in its saliva and transmits it to
man by biting.
 Clinical manifestation (3 phase)

1 . Prodromal/invasion phase
• Fever, anorexia, malaise, sore throat,
perspiration, irritability, hyper
excitability, restlessness and
insomnia.
• Pain at the site of bite
• Become sensitive to light, sound and
temperature.
• Mild difficulty in swallowing
2. Excitement or neurological
phase
– There is delirium associated with
involuntary twitching or generalized
convulsion.
– Patient exhibit maniacal behaviour
– There is severe and painful spasm of
the mouth, pharynx and larynx, on
eating and drinking.
– Aerophobia
– There is profuse drooling of saliva
– Tonic or clonic contraction of
muscle
– Death may occur

– If patient survived, patient will

deteriorate rapidly and enter to
terminal phase.
 3. Terminal/paralytic
phase
– Patient become quite and conscious
– There is tachycardia and steady
increase of respiration.
– Death
 Diagnostic procedure

• Virus isolation from the patient’s

saliva or throat.
• Fluorescent Rabies Antibody (FRA)

Technique
• Presence of negri body in dog’s brain.
 Medical Management

Wash the wounds from the bite and

scratches with soap and running water
for at least three minutes.
Check the patients immunization
status. Give tetanus toxoid if needed.
Give tetanus serum infiltrated around the
wound or given intramuscularly after
negative skin test.
Give anti-rabies vaccine, both passive and
active, depending upon the site and
extensiveness of the bite as well as the
health condition of biting animal.
 Prevention and Control

The primary preventive measure in rabies is

the interruption of the mode of transmission.
•Vaccination of all dogs.

•Enforcement of regulations for pickup and

destruction of stray dogs.

Confinement of any dog that has bitten a person for

10 – 14 days.

Availability of laboratory facilities and diagnosis.

Providing public education

 Nursing Intervention

• Isolation of patient

• Provide comport for the patient

• Provide a restful environment

• Diet and medication

• Provide assurance and emotional support

 
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