Early symptoms of rabies
I was bitten by a stray dog a while ago and received the injection, but these two days I've been feeling generally unwell. I would like to know what the early symptoms of rabies are.
Doctor's answer (1)
Early symptoms of rabies may appear after the incubation period of the virus, which typically lasts from several weeks to several months. Early symptoms may include fever, headache, fatigue, and general malaise, which are often overlooked or misdiagnosed as the common cold.
The patient may experience changes in mental status, such as anxiety, irritability, insomnia, or depression. There may also be a sensation of tightness or pain in the throat, especially when drinking water, a symptom known as "hydrophobia," which is one of the more characteristic early signs of rabies.
After infection with the rabies virus, patients may feel pain, itching, numbness, or a crawling sensation at the site of the wound. These symptoms result from viral replication at the local site. Some patients may experience throat tightness, causing discomfort during swallowing, which may be related to viral involvement of the respiratory system.
If you or someone else is suspected of possibly being infected with rabies, seek medical attention immediately and inform the doctor of any relevant exposure history, so that vaccination and administration of rabies immunoglobulin can be initiated as soon as possible to prevent disease progression.
