Can rabies be cured?

Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Rabies cannot be cured, and once infected and symptomatic, it is 100% fatal with no existing therapeutic strategies. Treatment only involves symptomatic care to alleviate some symptoms of patients but does not improve prognosis; generally, death occurs. Therefore, prevention of rabies is crucial. If exposed to potentially rabid dog or cat bites, it is essential to promptly administer rabies vaccine, and sometimes, it is necessary to concurrently inject rabies immunoglobulin.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Does rabies cause nosebleeds?

Rabies does not necessarily present with nosebleeds. The more typical symptoms of rabies are episodes of panic, along with distinct fears and agitation towards water, light, and wind. In the late stages of rabies, there often occurs paralysis of the respiratory muscles, ultimately leading to death by suffocation. Rabies is a fatal disease; once symptoms develop following infection, it leads to a 100% fatality rate, with no treatment strategies available. Therefore, prevention of rabies is absolutely crucial.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
36sec home-news-image

Can rabies be cured?

Rabies is a fatal disease, resulting in a 100% fatality rate once infected. It cannot be completely cured. The reason rabies leads to 100% mortality is that after the rabies virus infects the human body, it continuously ascends to the brain, where it proliferates extensively, destroying brain tissue and leading to brain function depletion, a condition that is untreatable. Therefore, in dealing with rabies, it is crucial to focus on prevention. If exposed to rabies, it is necessary to receive the rabies vaccine.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
32sec home-news-image

Does rabies transmit through saliva?

Rabies virus is primarily found in the saliva of dogs during the symptomatic phase, the saliva of cats during the symptomatic phase, and in the bodies of bats. There is a high concentration of rabies virus in the saliva of dogs during the symptomatic phase. Therefore, if one is bitten by a rabid dog, there is a significant risk of infection. It is necessary to promptly block and clean the wound, vaccinate against rabies, and administer rabies immunoglobulin injections locally at the wound site.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
31sec home-news-image

Does rabies cause coughing?

Rabies generally does not cause severe coughing, but in the late stages of the disease, coughing can occur. Eventually, due to spasms and paralysis of the respiratory muscles, some sputum cannot be expelled, which stimulates the respiratory tract to produce more secretions, possibly leading to frequent coughing. The main symptoms of rabies are a distinct fear and restlessness towards water, light, and wind. Rabies ultimately leads to death due to respiratory muscle failure and paralysis of the respiratory system.

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Written by Xiong Hong Hai
Infectious Disease
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Does rabies spread through saliva?

Rabies is primarily transmitted through saliva. The rabies virus is likely to be present in the saliva of dogs or cats during the symptomatic phase. Dogs or cats carrying the rabies virus have a high concentration of the virus in their saliva during this phase. If bitten by an animal in this stage, there is a significant risk of infection. Prevention measures should be based on the actual situation, including vaccination against rabies and local administration of rabies immunoglobulin at the wound site. Rabies is a fatal disease with no treatment available, but it is preventable.