Basics
What type of microscopic pathogen causes rabies?
A virus.
Worldwide, what animal is responsible for up to 99% of rabies transmissions to humans?
Dogs.
What is the medical term for the severe fear of water, a classic symptom of late-stage rabies in humans?
Hydrophobia.
Can clinical rabies in humans be cured once the symptoms start appearing?
No (it is almost 100% fatal once symptoms begin).
Under an electron microscope, the rabies virus is famously known to have the shape of what object?
A bullet.
What is the most common way the rabies virus enters a human body from an infected animal?
Through a bite (via infected saliva).
How long does the incubation period (the time from bite to symptoms) typically last in humans?
Weeks to months (usually 2-3 months).
In rabies management, what does the acronym "PEP" stand for?
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis.
Which specific bodily system does the rabies virus primarily attack and destroy?
The central nervous system (or brain and spinal cord).
What is the most effective proactive step pet owners can take to prevent the spread of rabies?
Vaccinating their pets.
Name one common behavioral sign that an animal might be rabid.
Unprovoked aggression, excessive drooling, paralysis, or unusual tameness in wild animals.
PEP involves two different types of injections. One is the rabies vaccine. What is the other?
Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG).
True or False: Birds and reptiles can catch and spread rabies.
False (Rabies only affects mammals).
What is the critical first-aid step you must do immediately after being bitten or scratched by a suspected animal?
Wash the wound vigorously with soap and water for 10-15 minutes.
How is rabies definitively diagnosed in an animal to confirm it had the virus?
By testing brain tissue after the animal has died.
For maximum effectiveness, where should the Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) be injected?
Directly into and around the bite wound(s).
To what specific family of viruses does the rabies virus belong?
Rhabdoviridae (or the Lyssavirus genus).
Aside from a bite, name another way the rabies virus can be transmitted from an infected animal to a human?
Scratches, or infected saliva contacting open wounds or mucous membranes (like eyes/mouth).
In human patients, what is the term for the fear of fresh air or drafts, which can trigger muscle spasms similar to hydrophobia?
Aerophobia.
How many doses of the rabies vaccine are typically given to a person who has NEVER been vaccinated before, as part of their post-exposure treatment?
Usually 4 doses (spread over 14 to 28 days).