Rabies in humans: symptoms and the course of the disease
Rabies. Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord, which proceeds with signs of deep damage to the nervous system( dementia, aggressiveness), leading to imminent death.
For the first time rabies was described by Celsus as early as 1 century AD.Since then, anti-rabies immunization has been developed, however, treatment has not been invented. Thus, rabies is still a fatal disease these days.
In this regard, there are many questions: who is the causative agent, how does rabies occur in humans, is there cow's madness in a person, what are the preventive measures, is vaccination against rabies caused to a person? Let's start in order.
The causative agent of rabies is the RNA virus Neuroryctes rabid.
How is rabies transmitted and what are its symptoms?
Rabies is transmitted transmissively - when bitten by sick animals or when sick animals are infected, wounds, aerogenously, when visiting caves inhabited by bats, alimentary - through food, transplacental - from the mother to the fetus.
Animals that are sources of infection include foxes, wolves, dogs, rodents, large horned animals, small animals, horses, etc.
The duration of the incubation period depends on the location of the moult or bite. With a head bite, the person's incubation period is on average 2 weeks, with a shin bite, the foot can reach 1 year.
There were recorded cases when the first signs of rabies after a dog's bite were manifested 2-3 years after the injury.
The clinical picture of the disease can be divided into 3 periods: depression, agitation, paralytic period.
Depression period
The first signs of rabies in a person are itching, a burning sensation in place of a long-healed wound or abrasion. It is extremely rare in the area of the previous wound may appear hyperemia, edema.
From the side of the nervous system, changes are manifested by a depressed, depressed state, an anxious dream with nightmares, anxiety, fear of death, apathy.
Excitation period
It occurs 2-3 days after the disease, accompanied by an increase in temperature to 37-37.5 ° C.It manifests a pronounced increase in the tone of the sympathetic nervous system( increased pulse, dilated pupils), the development of such symptoms as hydro-, photo-, acousto-, aerophobia.
One of the most striking symptoms is hydrophobia. The patient is thirsty, however, when trying to take a sip of water with a shout throws the glass away, a spasm of respiratory muscles develops. In the future such agonizing spasms can develop only when the patient thinks of water. Other signs of rabies in a person are aggressiveness, excessive salivation, inadequate behavior.
Gradually the periods of the excited state are lengthened and become more frequent. Appear hallucinations, both visual, and olfactory and auditory. In the inter-attack period, the consciousness is clear, and the patient is able to take a critical attitude towards his condition, adequately answer questions. The duration of the excitation period is 2-3 days.
Paralytic period
The paralytic period is characterized by "sinister reassurance".Excitation is gradually replaced by apathy, convulsions, as a rule, cease. In this case, there comes a period of imaginary well-being, which quickly ends.
The body temperature rises rapidly to high figures, the heart rate increases, and limb paralysis develops rapidly. Death occurs after 12-48 hours as a result of paralysis of the respiratory, cardiovascular centers.
Diagnosis and treatment
Basically, the doctor makes a diagnosis based on the clinical picture of the disease. Retrospectively, the diagnosis is made based on the detection of Babish-Negri corpuscles in a histological study of brain sections.
It is possible to isolate the virus from the patient's biological fluids( saliva, cerebrospinal fluid) and initiate a FAT reaction on skin biopsy specimens or prints from the cornea of the eye.
Currently, people can not treat rabies in humans. Rabies is a deadly disease.
All therapy is aimed only at alleviating the condition.
Prevention of
When biting and mourning the wounds, it is urgent to contact the nearest trauma center where the issue of carrying out anti-rabies vaccinations will be decided.
At present, rabies vaccine for people "KOKAV" - concentrated culture anti-rabies vaccine and "AIG" - rabies immunoglobulin are used for anti-rabies vaccinations.
Anti-rabies vaccine creates a long-term active immunity( 1 year) is formed 10-14 days, rabies immunoglobulin - passive, but immediately, since ready-made antibodies are introduced.
The choice of the preparation depends on the localization and severity of the bite, the place of moulting. Treatment and prophylactic immunization with an antirabic vaccine can be carried out on an outpatient basis, whereas the use of an antirabic immunoglobulin is possible only in a hospital setting.
Introduction AIG is usually performed under the cover of antihistamines. Vaccination is carried out at 0, 3, 7, 10, 30, 90 days.
When using anti-rabies drugs, it is recommended to completely stop taking alcohol for the whole course of vaccinations and 6 months after to prevent complications from the nervous system.
Bovine rabies in humans
Disease not related to conventional classic rabies of animals and humans. Another name for the disease is spongiform encephalopathy.
The infectious agent in this case is the prions or abnormal proteins that represent particles that affect the neural tissue, in particular the brain.
Can a mad rabies develop in humans? Can. Infection occurs by alimentary route when eating contaminated meat( enough 0.5 gram)
Symptoms:
Weight loss, asthenia, sleep disturbance, memory are the initial signs of the disease. Gradually join spastic paralysis, tremor. There may be a decrease in vision, ataxia. Death occurs within 8-12 months after the onset of the first signs of the disease. Effective methods of treatment, as well as methods of prevention, have not yet been developed.