BY GEORGE NAVA TRUE II
YOUR PETS can kill if you’re not careful. This happens when they have rabies.
The scourge of rabies has been around since 2000 BC. It is considered a neglected tropical disease that is present in 150 countries.
The Department of Health said rabies kills over 59,000 people yearly. In the Philippines, 200 die from rabies every year. The Iloilo Provincial Office added that five people have died from rabies in the first three months of 2021. The victims came from San Dionisio, Ajuy, Estancia, Calinog, and Sara.
Here are some myths and misconceptions about the disease:
Rabies infects only dogs. FALSE. While the virus that causes the disease is usually found in the saliva of infected stray dogs, any animal can transmit rabies. This includes cats, cows, goats, horses, bats, and monkeys.
The symptoms of rabies appear immediately. FALSE. Depending on where the person was bitten, it normally takes one to three months before symptoms appear. In some, this may be as short as four days or as long as six years.
You must be bitten by an infected animal to get rabies. FALSE. Although being bitten by an infected animal is a sure way of contracting the disease, you can also get rabies through other means.
Since the virus is present in the saliva of a rabid animal, it can transfer to another person via open wounds or the mucous membranes like the eyes, mouth, or nose. This means you may be infected if the sick animal licks an open cut on your skin. Additionally, someone with rabies may spread the infection via sex since the virus is present in sperm and vaginal secretions.
Rabies is easy to diagnose. FALSE. This may be difficult at first since the symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately. When they do, they are often mistaken for other diseases. If you are bitten by a wild or stray animal, don’t take chances. See a doctor immediately.
People with rabies develop hydrophobia quickly. FALSE. The early symptoms of rabies are like the flu. These are headaches, fever, and a burning or tingling sensation at the site of the bite. As the disease progresses, the patient may experience nausea, vomiting, hyperactivity, anxiety, and confusion.
Other symptoms include partial paralysis, insomnia, hallucinations, and excessive salivation. Hydrophobia is the historic name of the disease and occurs in the late stages of infection. This occurs in 80% of patients because swallowing becomes difficult and painful.
Rabies is curable. FALSE. Unfortunately, once symptoms appear, the disease is always fatal in two weeks. To prevent this, act promptly. If you have been bitten, wash the wound as soon as possible with soap and water for about five minutes to reduce the effects of the virus. You may apply povidone-iodine or alcohol afterwards. See a doctor immediately.
Rabies can be prevented. TRUE. To stop the virus from taking hold of the body and producing symptoms, the doctor may give you a shot of rabies immune globulin. This is usually administered near the area where the patient was bitten and should be done as soon as possible. Doing so will prevent the virus from infecting you. This is followed by four shots of the rabies vaccine in the arm for 14 days.
If you were bitten by a pet or farm animal, this should be observed for 10 days to see if it develops rabies. If not, you don’t need rabies shots. For peace of mind, get vaccinated and do the same for your pets.
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National Press Club and Philippine Dental Association awardee George N. True II has written two bestsellers based on his popular column which has been running for almost 40 years. For questions about health, email georgenavatrue@yahoo.com./PN
