Rabies

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Definition

Rabies is a serious viral disease that affects your central nervous system. Typically rabies spreads by way of the saliva of infected animals — often, but not always, through a bite.

Once you're infected, the virus spreads from your muscle to your peripheral nerves to your spinal cord and brain. From initial flu-like signs and symptoms, the illness progresses to convulsions, hallucinations, paralysis or breathing failure and almost always death once the infection is established. It's important to seek treatment immediately after exposure.

Your risk of exposure to rabies in the United States is greater when you come into contact with a wild animal. Wild animals are more likely to carry rabies than are domesticated animals.

Each year a few people die of rabies in the United States. Most deaths occur because the person didn't seek medical assistance. Treatment consists of treatment to the wound plus a series of rabies shots, which prevent symptoms and death resulting from rabies infection. If you think you've been exposed to an animal with rabies, call your doctor as soon as possible.

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Symptoms