Apr 05, 2004 11:30 PM
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(Updated Apr 06, 2004 12:39 PM)
Rabies? a deadly disease caused by the bite of infected animals. Rabies a terrifying disease viral infection of the central nervous system is very common Asia which has been eradicated in the rest of the world. As per estimates the toll of this deadly causes 45, 000 deaths per year across Asia out of 3 million bitten every year, mostly from India.
In Indian alone there are about staggering 30, 000 deaths followed by Pakistan 2, 000 deaths and Philippines about 400 deaths. These are cases which are identified and registered, where the total number could be much higher. In India the number of rabies death are high due to stray dogs, unlike other countries. Please also read my review'Doggie World' written by me earlier. This is high in Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and some parts of India(Andaman and Nicobar islands) are considered to be rabies free.
The following are the Symptoms to identify an infected animal:
Sudden change in behaviour
Drooling
Unprovoked aggression
Biting
Aimless running
Breathlessness
Partly Paralyzed
Though it is safe that the victim bitten by an animal needs to be rushed to doctor, but a watch needs to be kept on the animal. If the animal dies or shows any signs of illness within 15 days, more often than not the animal is infected and appropriate medication for rabies needs to be done.
The following are the Symptoms to identify a victim are infected by rabies:
The deadliness of this disease is that the victim may appear quite normal and healthy because the rabies virus takes time to develop. When an infected animal bites the virus travels through the nerves to the central nervous system where it incubates for days and months. All this time the victim does not show any sign of illness and by the time he symptoms develop, it is too late for an inevitable death. After the incubation period the virus multiplies and spreads throughout the brain and body.
Initially the victim may feel a slight headache, slight fever, nausea and persistent cough coupled with pain, itching, tingling or a sensation of cold on the bitten wound, which is known as'prodromal stage'. The next stage known as the'acute neurological stage', symptoms are increasingly alarming, where the victim in the next two to seven days becomes nervous, agitated, restless and irritable and may salivate excessively.
As the virus replicates in the brain, the victim experiences eye problems such as enlarged pupils, weakness of the facial muscles and hoarseness. In one out of six persons, there's hydrophobia-a fear of water. By now there is forceful, painful muscle spasms of the throat, which expel liquids administered orally. In the final stage the virus overwhelms the brain and central nervous system. The victim falls into coma, becomes paralyzed and dies.
Precautions and Taking Care:
The following to be done when bitten by an animal:
Attend to the wound immediately by washing it with plenty of water and then apply antiseptic like iodine etc. There is a myth that bites can be treated with chilly powder or oil, which is very dangerous.
Immediate medical help in the form of immunization to be done as soon as possible, so that the virus can be killed before the incubation stage. This is ineffective once it reaches the brain.
The cure for rabies is available through 4 kinds of vaccines. The once available and more often used in India(available in Government hospitals free of cost), comprises of 14 injections of which 10 injections needs to be taken in the stomach. This is quite a painful process and also has drawbacks of side effects in the victims. The rest of the vaccines less used in India are safer requiring not more than 5 shots.
Albeit, in India the cases are reducing year by year, thanks to the various initiatives of the Government of India, still lots needs to be done for effectively eradicating this deadly disease from India.
Please read, rate and comment on this review.
Vijay
