I’ve been learning some about rabies and learned about rabies causing hydrophobia. This is just a theory, I’m not saying I know anything about this topic to be knowledgeable, but if we could get someone with rabies to not fear water, could they survive?
Why can’t we just get a rabies vaccine when we’re kids, or every few years, like most other vaccines? Why does it have to be after the bite event?
Vets and people who work in animal shelters often get the rabies vaccines beforehand. But even if you have been vaccinated previously, you still have to get it again if you are bitten.
Then what’s the point of getting it beforehand?
Because unless you’re living and working in a high risk environment, there’s no need for a human to go get a rabies vaccine because they can just avoid mammals that are acting strangely. It’s not like it’s airborne, you have to get a penetrating bite from a symptomatic animal to get it, so when that happens you just go to the doctor. You’d still likely get the vaccine even after a bite even if you had been previously vaccinated.
What if you’re backpacking or something when you get bit? How long of a safety window do you have between getting bit and getting the vaccine?
Incubation period is as little as a week, but as great as a year. You would want to be vaccinated ASAP because otherwise it’s a death sentence.
Thanks!
Considering that it has to go through the belly button, I’d rather not, thanks.This is apparently not the case anymore since the 1980s.
Modern rabies vaccines are injected into the upper arm.
Oh, that’s good to know. Thanks.