What should you know about hrig rabies?

Rabies is a viral infection that can affect the brain and nervous system. It may be passed through a bite, scratch, or saliva contacting broken skin or the eyes, mouth, or nose. A person may feel well immediately after exposure, so waiting for symptoms is unsafe. The animal’s species, behaviour, vaccination history, location, and whether it can be observed all help clinicians judge the exposure.

Wash a bite or scratch with running water and soap as soon as possible, without scrubbing deeply or sealing the wound. Avoid applying irritants. Seek urgent medical care and describe exactly what happened, when it happened, and where the animal went. A clinician may recommend wound care, rabies vaccine, and rabies immunoglobulin depending on the exposure. Read about [Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis](/treatments/acute-and-urgent-care/rabies-post-exposure-prophylaxis/) and [Rabies Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/rabies-vaccination/).

Seek care immediately for any bite or scratch from a mammal that could carry rabies, or when saliva may have reached broken skin or a mucous membrane. Also seek assessment if the wound is deep, bleeding, painful, swollen, or difficult to clean. Do not wait for fever, unusual sensations near the wound, confusion, trouble swallowing, or fear of water; these symptoms need emergency care and prevention is more effective before illness develops.

Ask whether the contact counts as a rabies exposure, which treatment is needed, whether tetanus or antibiotics should be considered, and how follow-up doses will be scheduled. Tell the clinician about immune conditions, medicines, pregnancy, and any earlier rabies vaccination.