I Got Rabies: What Should I Know?

Possible rabies exposure is an urgent medical issue; wash the wound and seek post-exposure care immediately. Do not wait for symptoms, observe the animal at home, or rely on the wound looking minor.

Rabies can be transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, commonly through a bite, scratch, or saliva contacting broken skin or the eyes, mouth, or nose. Dogs, cats, bats, and other mammals may be involved. A clinician assesses the animal, the contact, the wound, and your vaccination history to decide what protection is needed.

Wash and flush the wound thoroughly with soap and running water as soon as possible, then cover it with a clean dressing. Do not apply irritating chemicals or seal a deep wound yourself. Go to an emergency service or urgent clinic for Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis assessment. Bring details of the animal, location, time of contact, and any available vaccination record.

Seek care immediately after any bite, scratch, or saliva exposure from a mammal that could carry rabies, particularly a bat or an unfamiliar, stray, or behaving-abnormally animal. If fever, tingling near a wound, swallowing difficulty, agitation, confusion, or fear of water develops, treat it as an emergency. Symptoms should never be awaited before seeking prevention.

Ask whether you need Rabies Vaccination, rabies immunoglobulin, wound treatment, and follow-up doses. Explain the animal species, whether saliva touched broken skin, where the contact occurred, and whether you previously received rabies vaccine.