r/rabies • u/BradyStewart777 • Jan 15 '25
Many people come here worried that they have rabies. This post is here to show you that you do NOT have rabies. Rabies is VERY rare, and if you had a real risk of exposure (based on multiple factors, such as the country / region, type of exposure, your vaccination status, the species of the animal, the country guidelines, and more), you would need to seek immediate medical attention, NOT post on Reddit.
If you have general health concerns, there are proper steps to take but panic driven posts such as āI have rabiesā or āIām dyingā without any basis are automatically removed.
The incubation period (for those that don't know) is the time period from initial exposure to the onset of symptoms. The rabies virus has an average incubation period of 20-90 days, or about one to three months. But this can vary from as little as one week to as long as one year. Very rarely will it ever go beyond that. There is no reason to be worried about such long incubation periods. Most end before 6 months. The timeframe however DOES depends on several factors, such as the location of the bite and the viral load.
If you have not been DIRECTLY BITTEN or SCRATCHED by a wild or confirmed unvaccinated MAMMAL that you either cannot observe for 10-14 days or has mysteriously disappeared before 10-14 days, you are almost CERTAINLY not infected. Your symptoms are very likely caused by something else entirely. However, we cannot accurately diagnose you with a disease or condition here. Only an in-person physician can reliably diagnose you. For verified medical advice, you can visit r/AskDocs to receive verified medical input. Physicians there are labeled and verified. But this still should not replace an in-person medical professional.
The virus travels through the peripheral nervous system as it moves up your body. During this period, you remain completely asymptomatic. THIS is the incubation phase. Symptoms of rabies only emerge once the virus reaches the central nervous system (particularly the brain), not the peripheral nervous system or any other part of the body. Rabies, being a Lyssavirus, is neurotropic. It is specifically attracted to and targets neural tissue. You CANNOT get rabies from casual surface contact, blood, seminal or vaginal fluids, skunk spray. The ONLY bodily mammalian fluids that can spread rabies are infected saliva, neural (brain+spinal) tissue, and (rarely) tears.
Neurological symptoms of rabies are either furious or paralytic. Encephalitic rabies symptoms may come and go with periods of calm in between (called furious episodes). [ā]
Encephalitic rabies is the more dramatic and recognized form. It causes SEVERE neurological dysfunction and hyperactivity. The virus takes hold of the central nervous system and leads to extreme alterations in behavior, heightened responses to stimuli, and a progressive loss of control over cognitive and motor functions. This variant occurs in about 70-80% of cases. Symptoms of encephalitic rabies include:
Fever. (low-grade)
Headache.
Visual disturbances or hallucination.
Sensitivity to light and moving air.
Paresthesia.
Delirium and confusion.
Tremors, seizures, or repetitive uncontrollable movement.
Fading in and out of consciousness.
Partial paralysis (of one or both legs or arms).
Excessive salivation / inability to swallow (not even your own saliva).
Extreme aversion to water, food, or drink (Hydrophobia & Aerophobia).
Respiratory Failure.
Coma.
Death.
Encephalitic rabies usually progresses from the earliest symptoms to death within seven to ten days on average.
Dumb (paralytic) rabies is the less common variant of rabies. Instead of the well-known signs most people associate with the disease, it progresses more quietly but is just as deadly. The symptoms of dumb rabies include:
Fever.
Headache.
Fatigue.
Discomfort at the bite site.
Tingling sensation.
Muscle weakness.
Loss of sensation.
Paralysis starting in the bitten limb.
Progression of paralysis.
Coma.
Respiratory failure.
Death.
Death from dumb rabies generally occurs within seven to eleven days after symptom onset, though it can range from a few days to several weeks or more.
Symptoms of rabies and the order in which they appear can vary from person to person, and not all listed symptoms may appear in every case. The progression and presentation of the disease can differ based on the individual.
Just because your throat hurts does NOT mean you have rabies. A sore throat is something everybody experiences every once in a while, whether from a cold, allergies, or even just talking too much. If you had rabies, you wouldn't be sitting here worrying about a little throat irritation.
When rabies reaches the stage where swallowing becomes an issue, it is NOT a mild soreness. Patients with rabies develop hydrophobia (an extreme fear of water), because even the thought of drinking causes their throat muscles to spasm violently. They choke, gasp, and struggle just to swallow their own saliva. Some patients shake uncontrollably at the sight of a glass of water. It's a sign that their bodies are physically rejecting what their minds know they need. The pain from a sore throat is no where close to what these patients go through. There is no relief. Their own saliva builds up because they cannot swallow. It forces them to salivate uncontrollably.
Here are some videos of real patients suffering from hydrophobia. You can see firsthand what they go through. You can see the way their bodies violently resist even a drop of water. THIS is what (encephalitic) rabies looks like. If you believe a mild sore throat is anything like this, you'd be mistaken.
Here are the links:
All of these are NSFW.
[1]. Video 1: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[2]. Video 2: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[3]. Video 3: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[4]. Video 4: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[5]. Video 5: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[6]. Video 6: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[7]. Video 7: Rabies Hydrophobia.
You can find a lot more by searching ārabies hydrophobiaā on YouTube. If you're someone who gets disturbed easily, maybe skip them.
Paresthesia can have lots of causes including anxiety, nerve compression, vitamin deficiencies, or circulation issues. Rabies related paresthesia is usually localized to the site of the bite and does not randomly occur all over the body. If you're experiencing persistent or unexplained tingling, then speak to a doctor. We cannot diagnose you.
Once more, there are many possible causes and most are harmless. Common triggers include dehydration, hunger, fatigue, stress, eyestrain, poor posture, allergies, caffeine withdrawal, and even weather changes. You could try drinking water, eating a snack, taking a nap, or resting in a quiet, dark room. Stretching, deep breathing, or a warm compress on your neck can help if the headache is tension related.
There are lots of possible causes and most are probably not serious. The flu, common cold, mild viral infections, dehydration, lack of sleep, and even seasonal allergies can all cause symptoms like fatigue, body aches, chills, fever, sore throat, cough, congestion, or headaches. In most cases, symptoms improve with time and rest.
See if you can safely take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with fever, aches, or discomfort. Speak with your pharmacist if you're unsure. You can drink fluids, eat nutritious foods and allow your body time to recover. Getting enough rest and avoiding stress can also be beneficial.
If symptoms persist for several days, worsen, or become severe, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, a persistent high fever, or confusion, you should seek medical attention. Reddit is not a replacement for a real physician. Online opinions can provide guidance, but only your healthcare providers can properly evaluate your symptoms. If you start feeling better, chances are you most likely fine.
Nausea and vomiting can happen for many reasons. Some of the most frequent causes include food poisoning, stomach viruses, motion sickness, pregnancy, medication side effects, overeating, alcohol, or stress and anxiety.
Other causes may include migraines and other medical conditions such as acid reflux or gallbladder issues.
In most cases nausea and vomiting are short lived and improve with time and rest. If you're experiencing these symptoms, try to stay hydrated. You can try drinking small amounts of water, oral rehydration solutions, clear broths, or electrolyte drinks throughout the day. You should generally avoid gulping large amounts at once (that may worsen the nausea).
Once the vomiting dies down, you can start with bland easy to digest foods like crackers, toast, rice, bananas, applesauce, or plain chicken. You should avoid dairy, greasy, spicy, or heavy foods until you're fully recovered. Rest in a quiet environment and avoid strong smells or motion, which can make nausea worse.
Over the counter anti nausea medications may help in some cases, but check with a pharmacist or physician before taking anything. Especially if you're under 18, pregnant, or on other medications.
If the vomiting doesn't stop after a day or two, becomes severe, contains blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds, or is accompanied by confusion, a high fever, stiff neck, severe abdominal pain, or signs of dehydration (such as dry mouth, dark urine, dizziness, or low urine output), you should consult a physician. Persistent vomiting can lead to complications like dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Temporary blurred vision can come from eyestrain, dry eyes, fatigue or even dehydration. Red flag symptoms include sudden severe or persistent vision changes (especially in one eye or with pain), which may be signs of more serious condition like a retinal issue, stroke, or migraine aura. If your symptoms become, in anyway, severe, consult a physician.
Feeling dizzy can come from dehydration, low blood sugar, anxiety, fatigue, or standing up too fast. It is often harmless and goes away with rest and hydration.
You should consult a medical professional if your symptoms are persistent, frequent or come with fainting, vision changes, chest pain or weakness.
If you have a medical question or are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above after being bitten, scratched, or coming into direct contact with a bat, or if you had saliva or neural tissue from an unknown animal come into contact with your eyes, mouth, nose, or an open wound weeks to months earlier, you should consult a physician immediately. As a side-note, here are some resources about rabies! Rabies by the CDC, Rabies WHO, Rabies American Veterinary Medical Association, Rabies by Mayo Clinic.
If you're in the United States, here is a portal to find your local health department. A physician can evaluate your symptoms properly and give you reliable answers in person.
If you have questions about a potential exposure, you can see our rabies FAQ that answers common questions from people. If you have questions about things like thinking you saw a bat, worrying a bat might have bitten you mid-flight without you noticing, waking up with mysterious marks, when the 10-day observation protocol applies to animals like dogs, cats, or ferrets, or what it means if you received post-exposure rabies vaccines without HRIG or ERIG. Those questions are addressed and answered in the post linked above.
It should be made absolutely clear that this post is NOT something you should use to diagnose yourself. It exists solely to show that the symptoms you may be experiencing can be caused by a wide range of things. Some harmless, some more serious, and not automatically something like rabies.
If you're concerned about your health, don't rely on posts like this or random internet opinions. Consult a medical professional.
Only your healthcare providers can give you the reliable information and answers you need.
r/rabies • u/BradyStewart777 • Mar 12 '25
A lot of people here are obsessed with the idea that an invisible bat is going to fly in, bite them in their sleep, and give them rabies without them ever knowing. But most people who obsess over these things don't seem to realize just how absurdly rare rabies actually is.
Every year, around 60,000 to 70,000 people die from rabies worldwide. That might sound like a big number until you put it into perspective. Influenza (a much āweakerā and far less deadly virus) kills about 700,000 people every year. [ā] That means the FLU, something most people barely think twice about, takes out ten times as many people as rabies. But you donāt see anyone obsessing over invisible flu particles chasing them down in the night. Why? Because the flu spreads easily while rabies almost never does. If rabies were even remotely as contagious as people seem to think, weād see MILLIONS of deaths instead of just a fraction of that. Yes rabies IS terrifying when looking at the survival rate but that doesn't mean itās lurking behind every corner waiting to get you.
Approximately 99% of human rabies cases come from dogs. NOT bats. NOT some mystery scratch you woke up with. DOGS. And unless you're completely oblivious, you would absolutely know if a dog bit you. The remaining 1% of cases come from other animals like cats, skunks, foxes, and bats. But even then less than half of one percent of all bats will ever contract rabies in their lifetime.
If 70,000 people die from rabies each year, that's only about 0.000854% of the world's population (8.2B). One percent of that is just 0.00000854%, and a decent portion of those cases aren't even from bats. What can we learn? Bat rabies is INSANELY rare, and the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor. Your mind telling you that you're going to get rabies just because a bat flew past you is completely detached from reality.
But people convince themselves they've been exposed over the most irrational things. Seeing a bat fly near you isn't an exposure. Waking up with a random mark on your body isnāt an exposure. A mystery object hitting you out of nowhere isnāt an exposure. Mysterious liquid falling on your face isn't an exposure. There are people who have convinced themselves they have rabies because they walked outside at night and maybe, possibly, heard a rustling noise.
You are far more likely to die from dozens of other things before rabies even has a chance of crossing your path. TRUE bat exposures (and rabies exposures in general) really are much rarer than you think.
r/rabies • u/krell_154 • 1h ago
A recently published scientific paper suggests that the true number of human rabies cases in USA is much greater than is officially recorded, based on statistical inference from cases of transmission during organ transplantations.
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/cancerrmoon • 1h ago
i have read the FAQ.
Rabies PEP - Urgent
female, 33.
i ended up having to get rabies PEP yesterday at the ER for potential bat exposure.
the nurse reconstituted the vaccine and it remained room temp and under the hospital light for about 20-30 mins before injecting it, mostly because i was nervous and had him hold off for a minute, and then he had to leave and another nurse came and took over and provided the vaccine.
the packaging says once it's reconstituted to use the vaccine immediately. and to not leave it out of the fridge or in the light. mind you it was out of the fridge for about twenty minutes prior but had no been reconstituted yet and was still in the box.
i tried calling the ER to talk to the doctors, a nurse, or pharmacist and i can't get through to anyone. i even tried calling the RabAvert manufacture and they only speak to medical providers. i guess i gave to go into the ER to ask this question.
i was wondering if the stability and efficacy of the vaccine is still okay because it wasnt injected until about 20-30 mins after being mixed.
does anyone have experience with this or who i can call to ask?
is it dangerous to get another vaccine in between my day 0 and day 3 vaccines?
thanks in advance.
r/rabies • u/ladedadedadedade • 3h ago
I have read the faq. The exposure would have happened during the winter of 2023 or 2024. I thought I felt something attacking my foot which was sticking out of the covers. I remember opening my eyes and seeing what I thought was a bat fly to the corner of my room, however then it disappeared and I fell back asleep. The next morning I couldnāt find any sign of the bat. My window was cracked open but I have screens. This is right outside a major New England city- so Iām not sure if there are even bats. I was just reading about the rabid goats which made me remember the bat incident. I assume this was a vivid dream but am not 100% sure it was fake even though I never found a live (or dead) bat. Should I be concerned?
r/rabies • u/Natural-Ranger-3778 • 4h ago
I have read the FAQ. I had a bat exposure yesterday and started my vaccines today (I also got the immunoglobulin today). Iāve seen conflicting things about drinking l; Iām on vacation for Labor Day and was hoping I donāt really have to limit drinking. Is it possible heavy drinking could suppress my immune system so that the vaccines/immunoglobulin doesnāt work?
r/rabies • u/Sensitive_Ask7768 • 5h ago
I have read the FAQ. I was in an area shopping where thereās a heavy bat presence. I had seen them the evening prior. But during the daytime I felt a sharp sting on my back. I had been under a tree at that time. I did not see what caused the scratch but whatever it was broke the skin. Since it was daytime itās highly unlikely to have been a bat right? I would have seen it fly off? I looked at my back briefly but didnāt study the surroundings at the time. I only ask because I saw them flying all over the place the night before.
r/rabies • u/Unlikely-Elephant969 • 11h ago
I was reading up on the history of the rabies vaccine. Given how terrifying and fatal this disease is, would it be accurate to call Louis Pasteur the ultimate savior or hero for developing the vaccine? I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/legitimatemoos • 18h ago
I have read the FAQ.
Lemme preface this by saying I KNOW I have anxiety and Iām really trying hard to be logical about this. I actually do NOT want PEP unless I need it. The vaccine itself makes me anxious, so Iām not looking for an excuse to get it.
Wednesday around 10:30p I was riding my bike (in south Mississippi if that helps) and something flew right at me. My immediate thought was big bug.
Iām about 92% sure it touched me as it flew byākinda ran into me but not hard. I wasnāt 100% on contact occurring but pretty sure, if that makes sense.
I just donāt know WHAT it was. For whatever god forsaken reason I thought of a bat. It was kinda big but again, no actual clue what it was, happened too fast to ascertain actual size.
Iāve now talked to two virtual doctors & the health department. Not intentionally.. lol. I tried the health dept first, then a doctor, got conflicting answers, and ended up trying another doctor since itās a free service through my job.
One doctor said no PEP. Sweet.
The other said get PEP because I canāt be sure what touched me.
Health department didnāt even let me finish my sentence before giving me a canned response of: donāt know, get it.
So my question is:
I was awake, sober and literally riding a bike. Nothing landed on me or grabbed me and I felt no bite. I never specifically saw a batāI just donāt know WHAT brushed against me as it flew by.
The FAQ says bats canāt bite you just flying past and an alert adult would likely notice a bite. Butttt one dr/the health dept basically said āyou canāt prove it wasnāt a bat, so get PEP.ā
Thatās the part thatās giving me pause. Are they just giving me a shitass response because itās rabies, or am I misunderstanding how a bat could bite/scratch me in this situation?
This my best, most earnest attempt to kick my OCD in the ass. I want to make an informed & logical decision.
So to the knowledgeable folks of this group: What say you?
r/rabies • u/Creative-Condition62 • 9h ago
I have read the FAQ. A monkey at the Ubud Monkey Forest forcefully jumped onto my face. I think its fur or hands may have touched my inner eye, and its hand lightly scratched my face. However, there were no visible scratch marks or bleeding.
I only had hypochlorous acid spray with me, which is known not to sting wounds, so I couldnāt tell whether there was a small scratch that I couldnāt see. I also read that it is supposedly as effective as regular alcohol for disinfecting.
I didnāt get any shots at the time because I assumed there were no scratches. However, today (the 4th day after the incident), I visited Siloam Hospital to be safe. The doctor said that shots were not necessary because he also could not see any visible scratches.
I leave Bali in two days and wanted to ask for advice. Should I still ask for rabies shots when I return home?
Google states that there have been 45,000+ documented rabies cases in Bali from January to August 2026.
I generally donāt do risky things, but this was a split-second, stupid decision that I really regret. Thanks in advance for your advice.
Editing to add that the zoo keeper mention that the monkeys are regularly vaccinated and supervised and that none of the monkeys have ever tested positive and its also mentioned on their website. Iām unsure of-course about the accuracy of his statement.
r/rabies • u/Noodlewoodlez • 10h ago
I can't find the answer to this. I'm in the US and I knew that the post exposure treatment for rabies was expensive out of pocket but I thought it was in the ballpark of 1k kind of expensive, at most. Apparently it's more like 8-10k for treatment??!
Now I'm concerned because I lost my health insurance by accident and can't get it back until January. I actually just a few months ago had a bat in the bedroom (safely caught, euthanized and sent for testing, it was negative). I assumed at the time that if I couldn't catch the bat for testing, the worst that would happen is having to go get the rabies PEP but I would have been absolutely coming apart with fear of not being able to catch that bat if I'd known the treatment was so over the top expensive. What if it happens again before January?? I wouldn't get insurance coverage for the treatment.
I'm fairly close to the border with Canada so now I'm wondering, it's unlikely but if I were to have exposure again before I have my insurance back, is it possible to drive across the border and get the PEP in Canada? I know I'd pay out of pocket and would be happy to, but I don't think the out of pocket cost is 8k there. I tried to search for an answer and all I could find was what to do if you are exposed while traveling in Canada.
Sorry if this is a panicked question, but that PEP cost is insane.
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/mshike_89 • 11h ago
Hey all, I have read the FAQ and still have a question about the vaccine coverage. How long does its protection last? I got the vaccine in Sept 2023 after being bit by a stray cat. I've always been curious about the coverage and am especially curious after feeding some deer in the backyard (I know, I know, not a good idea). I'm nervous because it licked my arm and I have hangnails on my hands. This happened in an area where a lot of people feed deer, which explains why it wasn't scared of humans. Tia.
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/Such-Ad4907 • 13h ago
I have read the FAQ. so the doses i had were scheduled like this: day 0-0-7-21.
On august 10 i had the third dose(day 7) which means i should've had the (day 21) dose on 24 aug now its 1 sep so today is day 8 AFTER the day the last dose shouldve been taken, what do you think i should do, restart everything again or just take it today.
r/rabies • u/Over_Analyst5144 • 14h ago
I have read the FAQ.
Yesterday i got touched by a monkey, there was no blood or mark tho. But still just to be safe i got the rabies vaccine & doctor put me on 4 doses under 28 days cycle, can i do water fasting during my rabies vaccine cycle or it might have some consequences.
r/rabies • u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 • 14h ago
I was vaccinated in 4 times in june 2025 spread over multiple days.
So i have posted here before now i got an update i will receive my second shot today the first i got last friday.
Since people say the vaccines are highly effective before symptoms which I donāt have.
Can i rest assured now and let go of my fears ? Since i have been crying my eyes out for days (i will immediately seek therapy)
i read in the FAQ that I donāt need rig because i was previously vaccinated (last year).
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/Unlucky_Wolverine_34 • 19h ago
āI have read the faq. But I havenāt seen anything about this in it. Possible exposure question. 5 years ago I had noticed a raccoon that was displaying serious rabies symptoms in a tree in the woods by my house. I had pet geese. That night the raccoon got ahold of one of them(she passed away that night from what Iām assuming was shock). My husband and I ran outside when my neighbor texted me saying there was something in one of my barns. He immediately shot the raccoon as it scurried up a wall and not long after I had handled the goose that had blood on her and wounds from the raccoon. I didnāt have gloves on. This was all extremely stupid, I know. Naturally with health anxiety to the extreme like many others on here, I called doctors, vets, and the health department. All of them didnāt think I was exposed to the point where I should get the shots. I still to this day when seeing the incubation time get sick to my stomach thinking āwhat if I had a small cut, what if I touched my face.ā
At the time I remember I was kind of cautious and threw bleach all over my arms and hands and I know if I had a cut or ANYTHING I would have been at the er immediately. The goose did have wounds and blood and probably saliva from the raccoon on her side. The health dept picked up the raccoon and it did test positive. I remember a vet telling me Iād have to drink a gallon or so of the saliva to be infected, and it dies shortly after being out of the body. Can anyone offer any facts or info because 5 years later I go into the rabies freak out again and wonder if I should get the vaccine. Yes I know the health dept, vets and doctors told me no but now Iām looking back at the gallon of saliva statement and wondering how true that is or how much she really knew about rabies in general.
r/rabies • u/Academic_Bake2616 • 23h ago
Just making a post as it hasnāt been mentioned there was a petting zoo with a rabies incident, a major let down from their part but apparently a lot of exposures and I havenāt seen it posted so Iām just sharing for anyone who needs to get the vax, take care folks. I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/throwawayyyyfjfj • 18h ago
So I know, I'm an idiot in and of itself for asking this question and for what happened but- long story short, my dog was going through the zoomies and in the process some of his saliva got on my hand.
Me, being the moron, forgot and proceeded to pick my nose with the same hand that had saliva... Is this how I get rabies accidentally? (Fyi his vaccine is also overdue, but hasn't been aggressive or anything.)
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/Mean-Forever677 • 20h ago
I have read the FAQ.
A few nights ago, I was sitting outside at night talking to my husband. We live in South Texas, and there were bats actively flying above and around us that night. We see them pretty often after dark, and sometimes they fly fairly low.
While I was sitting down, my shirt had lifted slightly and the side of my stomach was exposed. Suddenly, I felt a very quick, sharp sensation on the exposed skin. My immediate reaction was to swat at the area because I assumed some kind of insect had bitten or stung me. I never saw what caused it. When I checked afterward, there was only a very tiny red mark.
My husband was standing directly in front of me and looking at me when this happened. He says he did not see a bat fly into me, land on me, or make any physical contact with me. I also never felt an animalās body or wings touch me. All I noticed was that sudden sharp sensation.
Normally, I would assume this was a mosquito, ant, or another insect. But itās that bats were flying above us when it happened. Afterward, I read that bat bites can sometimes leave very small marks.
Now Iām wondering whether itās possible that a bat could have flown down, bitten the exposed side of my stomach, and flown away without either my husband or me noticing the bat itself. My husband thinks this is extremely unlikely because he was looking directly at me and believes he would have seen the bat or I would have felt its body or wings.
Iām also pregnant, which is making me more concerned about the situation.
Would you consider this a possible bat exposure even though neither of us actually saw or felt a bat make physical contact with me? Iām especially curious whether a bat could realistically bite an awake person who is sitting and talking to someone without either person noticing the bat.
r/rabies • u/YoungSad2573 • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ.
Around 3-4 days ago, I woke up with a little red scab in between my eyes. I used a wet cloth to "wipe it off" and it turned into a tiny red dot. I also noticed white lines on my right leg, and later that night, I felt itching and tingling. But it turns out I have a bug bite, but I'm still concerned.
However, I have NOT seen any bats, so the more that I think about this question the more ridiculous it sounds.
Thanks
r/rabies • u/Rae-Hartley • 20h ago
I have read the FAQ.
Soooo, I got my two dose booster PEP recommended by the health department. First dose went fine. Second dose was give way high up on my arm and hurt a lot.
Would I have to repeat this dose if it somehow got injected into my bursa and not fully my deltoid??
I really donāt want another shot
I have read the FAQ. I was petting a stray cat in icmeler, turkey today. The cat was friendly and turned onto its side, I tried to pet its stomach/ chest and it grabbed onto my hand, causing a small superficial scratch. It didnāt bleed, I cleaned it with soap and water and also sprayed alcohol into it (this didnāt cause any stinging etc) Iām not really sure if it broke skin properly.
Should I seek medical advice? There is some data showing that cat to human transmission has never been observed, dogs usually and also low cases.
I was going to go the the pharmacy in the morning for advice but the cut is almost invisible
r/rabies • u/cultyaya • 22h ago
F(18) I know this may sound stupid and I have read the FAQ. but my dog has scratched me on the face on my right cheek below my eye and it broke skin just a little bit and I wouldnāt be posting if it was just on the arm or leg but it is on my face and I rlly am nervous about this. Is there anyone who can confirm itās not that serious?
r/rabies • u/Intelligent-Fun863 • 1d ago
I came to work today and my boss wanted me to skin a coyote his neighbor had shot. I did not think much of it and skinned it normaly like I would a deer(no gloves) when I got to the head i found out he had also shot it in the head and my hands got covered in brain tissue. I had a very small hang nail on my thumb. I didn't think of it at the time and the animal looked healthy but I am nervous about exposure now. The animal had been dead 24 hours hung outside with a high of 77 f and low of 39f at night. I am willing to look into getting a shot but am concerned about cost. I have read the FAQ. but am having a hard time finding the risk on this particular situation
r/rabies • u/jfed14331 • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ. Hi everyone, so I am looking for some guidance. Long story short... i have a woodstove. Thought there was some water on the glass. Went to touch the water to see if it was wet (inside of the glass), and it was a bit oily which I thought was odd. Then I looked over and saw a bat hanging. Obviously freaked out. I washed my hands for about 5 minutes vigorously and then put hand sanitizer on. I noticed the sanitizer actually stung a bit on my finger because I have a small hang nail and papercut...
Called animal control to grab it and test it. The bat was actually dead and the test center said it was very dry internally. So they could not come up with a result.
An epidemiologist took all the notes down and deemed despite everything and me having a hang nail, theyre confident I wont need the PEP. I tend to agree.
Thoughts? Im 30 with a wife and Daughter... dont want to risk it but also dont want to be ridiculous.
