Rabies: Taking notice of a neglected disease
Rabies is a disease with the highest case fatality rate (100 percent) of any known infectious disease, but also completely preventable if proper action can be taken. Although there are safe and effective vaccines available, usage in developing countries is low due to the high cost and low level of awareness. In Bangladesh, it is still a neglected tropical disease that kills on an average 2,000 people every year. Sadly, over 50 percent of these deaths are children under 15 years of age. Rabies is caused by a virus which attacks the nervous system. People usually get rabies from the bite of a rabid animal-infected domestic dog (98 percent cases), infected cat bite or scratch. Every rabies death is preventable with the modern cell culture rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) that are currently available. Inhalation of aerosolised rabies virus is also a potential non-bite route of exposure usually seen in laboratory workers. Other contact, such as petting a rabid animal or contact with the blood, urine or feces of a rabid animal, does not constitute an exposure and is not an indication for prophylaxis. Rabies infects the central nervous system, causing encephalo-pathy and ultimate death. Early symptoms of rabies in humans are nonspecific, consisting of fever, headache and general malaise and feels pins, numbness or itching and at the bite site. As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hyper-salivation, difficulty swallowing, hydrophobia (fear of water) and aerophobia (fear of air). Death usually occurs within days of the onset of symptoms. Five vital steps for any animal-bite care:
-Do vigorous washing of the wound thoroughly with soap and plenty of water for 10-15 minutes, and seek medical attention immediately. -Then, apply any antiseptic or povidone iodine and ensure tetanus prophylaxis. -Use of appropriate antibiotic (if necessary) to prevent wound sepsis. -Avoid suturing, the wound(s) should not be dressed or bandaged unless necessary. -Active immunisation with Anti-Rabies Cell Culture Vaccine (CCV) that has been proven to be safe and effective recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO). Add passive immunisation with Rabies Immunoglobulin at bite site if recommended by a doctor.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments