medicall_editor Beware of Animal Bites, These are the Signs of Rabies in Child
Signs of rabies in child are basically the same as the ones in adults and treatment should be done quickly after exposure.
Rabies is a serious and dangerous disease, if the infected person does not get treatment immediately, the result will always be fatal. Most rabies cases are found in African and Southeast Asian countries and are caused by dog bites. In addition, children are especially prone to get infected, as they are easily amused by animals, including stray and wild animals. They will most likely play with them without knowing the consequences. According to World Health Organization (WHO), 40% of rabies cases involve children under 15 years old. After being bitten by a rabid animal, the infected child will not experience symptoms immediately and will enter an incubation period. After that, signs of rabies in child will begin to appear. However, it should be noted that treatment is best to be done right after exposure before any symptoms occur.
Rabies Disease
Rabies is an infectious disease caused by the rabies virus called the lyssavirus. This disease has a high potential to cause death if the virus infects the brain and central nervous system. The transmission of the rabies virus to humans occurs through the bite of a rabid animal. Scratches or animal’s saliva that has contact with a wound can also be the cause of transmission. Therefore, this virus can only enter into injured skin. Although dogs are the main cause of rabies transmission, there are other animals that can spread the virus to humans, for example, cats, raccoons, monkeys, and bats. After a rabid animal bites humans, the virus will start spreading in the body by entering blood vessels. If some symptoms have appeared, it’s already considered fatal.
Signs of Rabies in Child
Signs of rabies in child usually appear on an average of 35-36 days or around 4-12 weeks after the child is bitten by an infected animal. Early signs of rabies in child may seem similar to flu symptoms, such as fever, headache, muscle weakness, tingling sensation (paresthesia), and feeling tired. Therefore, it may be difficult for most people to distinguish. A child infected with rabies will also feel itchy and sometimes sore in the wound site. Below are the other common signs of rabies in child:
- Tingling sensation (paresthesia), muscle pain, and intense itching sensation in the wound site;
- Fever
- Headache
- Feeling weak
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Loss of appetite;
- Sore throat;
- Anxious;
- Insomnia;
- Hallucinations;
- Excessive drooling;
- Fear of light;
- Fear of water
Generally, an infected child will not immediately feel any symptoms, but a few days after being bitten by a rabid animal some signs will begin to appear, which include rheumatic pain and paresthesia in the bitten area. Common signs of rabies in child are high fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. Other rabies symptoms that follow are hallucinations, difficulty swallowing, insomnia, and anxieties. If your child is bitten by an animal suspected of carrying the rabies virus, it is best to immediately find medical treatment. In addition, it is advised to get vaccinated before any symptoms occur to prevent the virus from spreading to the brain.
If you or your child got bitten by an infected animal, do not delay the treatment and immediately get the rabies vaccine before the condition gets worse. You can book Rabies Vaccination Service on Medi-Call Application or simply contact Medi-Call Hotline at +62 81210783387.
