First Aid Bites & Stings Rabies Guide Rabies Guide Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment How Rabies Is Treated By Cathy Wong Cathy Wong Facebook Twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 01, 2022 Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO Michael Menna, DO, is board-certified in emergency medicine. He is an attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York and also works at an urgent care center and a telemedicine company that provides care to patients across the country. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Wound Care Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Side Effects Frequently Asked Questions Next in Rabies Guide What Is Rabies? Rabies is a life-threatening virus, but if you're exposed to it, prompt, effective treatment with certain vaccines can save your life. The most common way for a human to be exposed to rabies is through an animal bite. If left untreated, the virus triggers deadly inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Cases of rabies in humans are rare, particularly in the United States. In fact, only 23 cases of rabies were reported in humans in the United States from 2008 to 2017. Bats are the most common source of rabies-related human deaths in the United States. Across the globe, over 90 percent of human rabies cases result from virus transmission by domestic dogs. This article outlines proper wound care for an animal bite. It also covers the steps your healthcare provider will take to minimize your risk of contracting rabies. Wound Care Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Always wash your hands after being licked by an animal. Animal bites, though, require immediate medical attention. This is even more important if the bite comes from a wild animal, like a bat, raccoon, fox, or skunk. Swift action is essential when it comes to treating rabies. If you're bitten by an animal, the first step is to clean the wound immediately and thoroughly with soap and water. Regardless of rabies risk, animal bites can cause serious damage when the wound is severe. For example, bites may lead to local and/or systemic infection and can damage nerves or tendons. Therefore, it’s always important to seek medical treatment after suffering any type of animal bite. Wound Washing is Crucial For post-bite first aid, the World Health Organization recommends flushing and washing the wound for a minimum of 15 minutes. This cleaning should include the use of soap and water, and a povidone-iodine solution if it is available.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), animal-based research has shown that thorough wound cleansing alone may significantly reduce the likelihood of developing rabies. Once symptoms set in, however, death from respiratory failure usually occurs within seven days—even if treatment is given. Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Animal bites require fast, effective treatment, especially if you are unable to confirm that the animal is up to date on its rabies shots. If there's even a small risk of the animal being rabid, your healthcare provider will take steps to protect you against the virus — a protocol known as post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP. PEP starts with extensive washing and local treatment of the wound, but also includes doses of rabies vaccine and human rabies immune globulin (HRIG). When given in time, PEP can stop the rabies virus from entering the central nervous system and, in turn, prevent the onset of rabies symptoms. It's the only treatment strategy known to prevent rabies-related deaths. Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG) If you've never received a rabies vaccine, you'll also be given an injection of HRIG. These antibodies are given as soon as possible after the bite. HRIG allows your body to begin to detect and fight the rabies virus right away. This helps provide protection until your body starts making its own antibodies after getting the vaccine. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. You may also require a tetanus shot, depending on the date of your last one. Vaccinations Verywell / Emily Roberts The only way to confirm that an animal does not have rabies is to verify vaccination records or euthanize the animal and test its brain tissue. If you are unable to locate the animal that bit you, you'll need to be given additional doses of vaccine to prevent rabies. The standard dosing schedule for the rabies vaccine is four doses, given over the course of 14 days. The first dose is given as soon as possible as part of the PEP protocol. There are two rabies vaccines available: RabAvert and Imovax. RabAvert is not recommended for individuals with an egg allergy. The rabies vaccine, like others, contains a weakened form of the virus. It is incapable of reproducing or causing disease. You won't get sick from the rabies vaccine. Instead, your body will respond to the shot by producing antibodies that target and kill the rabies virus. Side Effects Adverse reactions to the rabies vaccine and HRIG aren’t common, but they can happen. Minor reactions at the injection site can include: PainRednessSwelling Itching In rare cases, patients may experience symptoms like headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches, and dizziness. Before receiving the rabies vaccine, let your healthcare provider know if you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction to a dose of the rabies vaccine. You should also tell your healthcare provider if you have any severe allergies, or if you have a weakened immune system due to a chronic condition or use of certain medication (such as steroids). Rabies Healthcare Provider Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Summary Rabies is a deadly condition that is transmitted through contact with the saliva of infected animals. To prevent getting sick, seek care immediately when bitten by an animal. It's especially important to get medical help if you can't verify that the animal is current on its rabies shots. There is no cure for rabies. Your healthcare provider will take immediate steps to protect you against developing rabies. This includes wound care, human rabies immune globulin for antibodies, and the rabies vaccine. Frequently Asked Questions Do I need rabies treatment if an infected animal licks me? Probably not, based on updated guidelines for rabies treatment released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018.The guidelines identify three categories of rabies exposure. The first category is defined as "touching or feeding animals, licks on intact skin," but post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is recommended only for category 2 and category 3 exposure. What are the side effects of rabies treatment? The vaccine given to prevent rabies after exposure to the virus is safe and effective for most people, with side effects that are similar to those of any vaccine:Symptoms at the injection site such as soreness, redness, swelling, or itchingSystemic side effects including headache, nausea, stomach pain, muscle aches, or dizzinessAfter booster shots, some people develop hives, joint pain, or fever. There are few known long-term complications associated with the rabies vaccine. However, there have been rare reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome following the vaccine. How can I protect my family and my pets from rabies? The American Veterinary Medication Association recommends parents and pets:Have all pets that are mammals, including ferrets, livestock, and horses, vaccinated.Keep cats and ferrets inside; do not allow pets that go outside to run free.Don't keep wild animals as pets.Never leave food, including pet food, outside, which can attract rabid animals.Bat-proof houses, garages, and other structures.Teach children to steer clear of animals they don't know, even those that seem tame. Rabies doesn't always cause animals to act strangely. 11 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies Vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human Rabies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bats Lead in U.S. Rabies Risk. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies around the World. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Human Rabies Immune Globulin. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies: Diagnosis in animals and humans. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies Vaccine Information Statement. World Health Organization. WHO announces new rabies recommendations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies VIS. Rabies vacccine: What you need to know. American Veterinary Medical Association. Rabies and your pet. Additional Reading National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Vaccines. Salve H, Kumar S, Sa R, Rai SK, Kant S, Pandav CS. Feasibility of sustainable provision of intradermal post exposure prophylaxis against rabies at primary care level--evidence from rural Haryana. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Jun 25;14:278. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-14-278 World Health Organization. Frequently Asked Questions on Rabies. By Cathy Wong Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit