Rabies
Rabies is an acute viral infection affecting the nervous systems of animals and humans.
What is it? (Overview)
Bats usually spring to mind when thinking about rabies, though this highly infectious (and almost always fatal) disease can affect all warm-blooded animals, including humans. 
Dogs, cats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes have all been known to carry the disease. Raccoons alone account for over 50% of rabies cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), less than 10% of reported rabies cases are from domestic animals. The rabies infection is transmitted to humans through a bite or by the exposure of broken skin to an infected animal’s saliva. The virus travels from the wound along nerve pathways to the brain, where it causes inflammation that results in the symptoms of the disease (fig. 1).
How do I know I have it? (Symptoms and Diagnosis)
It can take from four to six weeks after exposure for symptoms to appear. However, it can also range from five days to more than one year. The following are symptoms of the illness:
- Pain and eventual tingling at the site of the bite.
- Sensitive skin.
- Low-grade fever (102 F or lower).
- Difficulty swallowing, or difficulty swallowing liquids only.
- Restlessness.
- Excitability.
- Muscle spasm.
- Convulsions.
- Numbness and tingling.
- Loss of muscle function.
- Drooling.
- Loss of feeling in the area of the body.
- Anxiety, stress, and tension.
How can I treat it? (Treatments)
Seek professional care immediately if you are bitten by any animal. Try to gather as much information about the animal as possible. Contact local animal control authorities to confine potentially dangerous animals for observation and examination.
Clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and remove any foreign debris. If available, pour antiseptic into the wound.
How dangerous is it? (Prognosis)
Rabies is nearly always fatal. Death from heart or respiratory failure and paralysis usually occurs within seven days after symptoms appear. The incubation period is approximately 10 days to seven weeks, but can stretch a bit longer.
How can I prevent it? (Prevention)
Educate children not to touch stray or wild animals or carcasses. Secure garbage so as to not attract wild animals. Cover chimneys and other potential portals of entry for wild animals. Vaccinate all dogs, cats, and ferrets. People at high risk of contracting rabies (veterinarians, animal handlers, lab workers exposed to the rabies virus, people living or traveling to areas where rabies is common) should discuss the possibility of receiving the rabies vaccine with their doctor.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
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Resources
To find out more about rabies, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site.