Rabies onset: symptoms and urgent action

Early illness may include fever, headache, tiredness, discomfort, or unusual sensations near the exposure site. Later neurological changes can include anxiety, confusion, agitation, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, or sensitivity to air or water. These symptoms are not specific to rabies, but a recent animal exposure makes urgent assessment especially important.

Wash a bite, scratch, or saliva-contaminated wound with soap and running water as soon as possible. Seek urgent medical advice even if the skin injury is minor and you feel normal. Give the clinician the animal's species, behaviour, location, availability, vaccination information, and the exact contact details. Prevention is planned from the exposure, not from symptom watching.

Do not wait for rabies onset after a suspected exposure. Obtain urgent assessment immediately. Call emergency services for confusion, severe agitation, trouble swallowing or breathing, new weakness, seizures, or a rapidly deteriorating condition. A bite to the face, neck, or hand, deep tissue injury, or saliva in the eye also warrants prompt emergency attention.

Ask what symptoms require emergency help, whether post-exposure prophylaxis should start, how the wound should be followed, and whether the animal can be safely assessed.