A dog bite may look like a minor injury but it can sometimes carry a deadly risk: Rabies. Rabies is a disease that affects the brain and nervous system and is mainly transmitted through the saliva of infected animals usually through bites or scratches. Dogs are responsible for about 99 per cent of human rabies cases worldwide.
One of the most frightening things about rabies is that a person may appear completely healthy after being bitten. The virus can remain in the body for weeks or even months before symptoms develop.
Early symptoms may include fever, weakness, headache and unusual pain or sensations around the site of the bite. As the disease progresses, a person may develop confusion, agitation, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation and paralysis, among other symptoms.
After a dog bite, do not apply chilli, plant juices, acids, chemicals or other irritating substances to the wound. Do not simply cover the wound and wait for it to heal. Instead, seek medical attention at a health facility as soon as possible. Treatment is highly effective when given before symptoms begin.
Children are particularly vulnerable because they may approach, play with or attempt to feed unfamiliar animals. Parents should teach children never to approach stray or unfamiliar dogs, even if the animal appears friendly.
Preventing rabies also means vaccinating dogs and practising responsible pet ownership.
With timely post-exposure treatment, rabies a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms begin – can be prevented.
