Does rabies bite people?
Jan 24, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, whether a person with rabies will bite others needs to be determined based on the specific stage of the illness. Typically, during the incubation period of rabies, patients usually do not exhibit obvious symptoms. In daily life, it is recommended that individuals with rabies avoid contact with stray animals again. Additionally, they should ensure adequate rest, abstain from alcohol consumption, avoid spicy or irritating foods, and refrain from strenuous activities.
Generally speaking, whether a person with rabies will bite others needs to be determined according to the specific stage of the illness. Usually, during the incubation period of rabies, the patient will not actively bite others. However, once the patient enters the excitation stage, he or she may actively bite others. The detailed explanation is as follows:
During the incubation period of rabies, most patients exhibit anxiety and fear, particularly pronounced hydrophobia (fear of water) and aversion to wind. Most patients remain conscious and will not actively bite others. Additionally, if the patient has received effective rabies vaccination before onset of symptoms, or timely and proper treatment after onset, the rabies virus in the body can be effectively controlled, and aggressive behaviors such as biting will not occur.
However, once the rabies patient enters the excitation phase, symptoms such as extreme fear, restlessness, and high sensitivity to stimuli like the sound of water or wind may appear. As the virus has already caused severe damage to the nervous system, the patient may display aggressive behaviors such as biting others when stimulated.
In daily life, rabies patients are advised to avoid contact with stray animals again. At the same time, they should ensure adequate rest, avoid alcohol consumption, refrain from eating spicy or irritating foods, and avoid strenuous physical activity.
