Rabies is a deadly disease caused by rhabdoviruses. The main source of infection is animals whose wildlife is a permanent habitat. However, there is a risk of transmission of the pathogen during a pet bite. Immediately after receiving even a minor injury (if the saliva of the animal came into contact with the damaged skin), it is necessary to contact a medical institution and get an anti-rabies vaccine. Urgency is due to the fact that rabies is incurable. When the first signs of the disease occur, any therapeutic measures are ineffective.
Why does a person need a rabies vaccine?
Even in the modern world, according to statistics from pathology, 50,000 people die annually. In most cases, the lethal outcome is due to untimely appeal to a medical institution.
Everyone should understand that after being infected with rabies, a person is doomed. The only way to save a life is vaccination. But the rabies vaccine should be given as soon as possible, otherwise even it will not help.
Rabies is a pathology that has claimed thousands of lives. Stop the mortality attempted by a microbiologist from France, Louis Pasteur. He conducted numerous studies that resulted in a rabies vaccine for humans. Thanks to this, only a year later it was possible to significantly reduce the mortality rate. The rabies vaccine for humans was developed in 1885. Over the next 12 months, the French microbiologist brought it to perfection.
The vaccine is still in use. This is due to the high risk of rabies from both wild and domestic animals. Moreover, the virus lives on absolutely every continent, that is, anyone can get sick. In addition, even after many years of research, it has still not been possible to create a cure for a dangerous pathology.
Indications
Anti-rabies vaccination is not given to everyone. The rabies vaccine is indicated on the national calendar, but with a note that it is administered only for epidemic indications. This means that it is intended for certain categories of citizens. The drug is also allowed to be used in emergency situations.
Indication for rabies vaccination is urgent prevention. The drug is administered to a person who has been bitten by a wild animal or pet with signs of the disease. In addition, doctors recommend vaccinating people who are planning a trip to potentially dangerous regions.
Who is subject to vaccination without fail:
- Veterinarians
- People whose professional activities are related to trapping and keeping stray animals.
- Laboratory workers who are forced to periodically encounter a pathogen when conducting research.
- People working in slaughterhouses.
- The hunters.
- Taxidermists.
- Foresters.
In the human body, rabies virus causes irreversible changes with subsequent death. In this regard, the drug is administered even to pregnant women. With timely vaccination, it is possible to save the life of both the mother and the fetus.
Contraindications
If necessary, anti-rabies vaccination is given to everyone. The annotation to the drug indicates that a contraindication is the age of 16 years. However, if a child is bitten by a wild animal, vaccination is mandatory. As mentioned above, the drug is administered even to pregnant women at any stage of gestation.
In some cases, even after a bite, the risk of transmitting rabies virus to humans is excluded. Vaccination is not carried out in the following cases:
- The saliva of the animal did not come into contact with the skin in the zone of violation of its integrity.
- Tissue injury occurred with the claws of a bird. Contact with feathered saliva is excluded. In this regard, scratches from claws are not dangerous.
- A wild or domestic animal has bitten a person through tight clothing. As a rule, in such situations there is no through damage.
- Violation of the integrity of the skin occurred due to the bite of a vaccinated pet. But at the same time, no more than 12 months should pass from the moment of vaccination.
In addition, the vaccine is not given after eating dishes prepared from the meat of sick animals.
When contacting a medical institution, the doctor conducts a thorough examination of the affected area. If the bites are located on the face, hands or neck, vaccination is indicated even if the damage is minor.
Number of injections
A few years ago, to prevent the development of rabies in humans, the vaccine was administered 40 times in the abdomen. In addition, each injection was accompanied by severe pain. Currently, a modern vaccine is used in practice, which implies only 6 injections. The drug is guaranteed to prevent the development of pathology, but injections need to be done on strictly defined days.
Rabies is a disease characterized by a long incubation period. That is why it is so important to undergo a full course of anti-rabies vaccinations. The doctor determines the right number of injections based on the results of the examination. A full course of immunization is indicated for persons whose bites are located on the face, neck, arms and chest. In such situations, without fail, immunoglobulin is injected directly into the damage zone. This manipulation allows you to prevent the development of the pathological process within 10 days. During this time, the body's defense system will be able to synthesize its own antibodies in the right amount.
Vaccination schedule
Doctors say that you need to be vaccinated immediately after a bite. In just 2 weeks, vaccination will become ineffective. In this case, nothing else can help a person.
How is emergency vaccination given:
- The wound of the victim is washed with running water and soap.
- The drug is administered on the day of treatment. It is advisable to come to the emergency room within a few hours after the bite.
- The second injection is carried out on the 3rd day after the first injection.
- The third time the drug is administered on the seventh day.
- The fourth injection is carried out 2 weeks after the first injection.
- The fifth time the drug is administered on the 30th day.
This emergency vaccination schedule is classic. In some cases, doctors give the sixth vaccine 3 months after the first injection.
Algorithm for routine vaccination:
- On the day prescribed by the doctor, the patient arrives at the medical facility. There he is given a drug for the first time.
- The second injection is indicated after 7 days.
- The third time the drug must be administered on the 30th day.
- Revaccination is carried out after 12 months.
The drug protects against rabies for the next 3 years. In this regard, the preventive course is carried out 1 time in 3 years. The schedule of rabies vaccinations is reflected in the national vaccination calendar.
With regards to which part of the body the drug is administered. Several years ago, injections were made into the subcutaneous tissue. Currently, the drug is administered intramuscularly. Children over 16 years of age and adults are injected into the external contour of the shoulder (deltoid muscle).
If a wild animal has bitten a small child, the drug is injected into the thigh area. In the buttock do not do injections. The vaccination schedule for children is the same as for adults.
Rules of conduct after drug administration
In order for the vaccine to be as effective as possible, a number of rules must be observed. Doctor's recommendations:
- After drug administration it is forbidden to drink alcohol-containing drinks. Even a small amount of alcohol can significantly worsen a person’s condition. Immediately before the introduction of the drug, the doctor warns that it is unacceptable to drink alcohol-containing drinks within the next few days. In this regard, it is recommended to do routine vaccinations not on days that are festive for the patient.
- Water procedures are not prohibited. On the day of vaccination, it is recommended to take a shower without using a hard washcloth. For one week, swimming in water is not recommended. This is due to the fact that most rivers and seas are heavily polluted, and the immune system experiences an increased degree of stress for some time after vaccination. In other words, there is a high risk of contracting an infectious disease.
- Some patients are interested in how long after the administration of the drug you can walk. Doctors say immediately after the injection. However, overcooling and overheating must be avoided. Thus, you can walk, but the time spent in the cold and under the scorching sun should be reduced.
- Quarantine after receiving the vaccine does not need to be observed. Within 2 weeks, the victim is monitored. In addition, if he was bitten by a pet, they also monitor the condition of the pet. If he does not die within 10 days, he is recognized as healthy. In this case, the vaccination course may be suspended.
- Skipping vaccinations is unacceptable. If you do not enter the drug at the appointed time at least once, the effectiveness of treatment is reduced to a minimum. In other words, the risk of developing rabies is again significantly increased. If a person has confused the days, he needs to contact his doctor and discuss further options for the development of events.
Thus, after the introduction of the drug, it is necessary to abandon alcohol, swimming in water. In addition, it is important to avoid overheating and hypothermia.
Side effects
According to numerous reviews, the drug is well tolerated by most people. In some cases, the general well-being of a person worsens. Side effects of rabies vaccination are determined by individual health characteristics and the state of the immune system. In addition, the risk of their occurrence increases significantly if vaccination rules are not followed.
Possible side effects after drug administration:
- Redness at the injection site. On this site also often there are painful sensations and itching. The formation of swelling is possible.
- Weakness.
- Migraine attacks.
- Dizziness.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Nausea.
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Slight discomfort in muscle tissue.
- An allergic reaction, manifested in the form of urticaria.
- Elevated body temperature.
The most unpleasant consequence is a violation of the functioning of the nervous system. Sensitivity reduction is the most common complication. However, it also passes independently in a few weeks.
Despite an impressive list of side effects, vaccination is done anyway. This is because human life is at stake.
Where to get vaccinated, existing vaccines
The drug must be in every budget medical institution. These include: feldsher-midwife centers, outpatient clinics, clinics and hospitals. In addition, first aid is provided in emergency rooms. In villages and villages, at least one vaccination can be done at a feldsher point.
Currently, there are several drugs that prevent the development of rabies:
- Kokav. This is a Russian-made vaccine.
- "Rabipur." The drug was developed in Germany.
- "Indirab", production India.
- KAV. This is a Russian-made vaccine. Its difference from Kokav is in dosage. CAV has less active component.
- Dry inactivated rabies vaccine.
Immunoglobulins come with them. As mentioned above, if necessary, they are introduced directly into the area of violation of the integrity of the skin. Doctors give an injection of human or equine immunoglobulin.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines interfere with the production of antibodies to the pathogen. Information about which drugs are compatible with rabies vaccination and which are not, is provided by the doctor during the examination. It is possible that for some time therapeutic measures will need to be stopped.
It is not recommended to vaccinate against chemotherapy, radiation or immunosuppressive treatment. In addition, the drug is incompatible with hormonal agents, cytostatics, as well as with medicines that are designed to combat malaria.
Finally
Rabies is a dangerous viral pathology that leads to death. The carriers of the pathogen are animals that live in the wild. After their bite, you must contact a medical institution as soon as possible. In addition, pets are also potentially dangerous. Currently, it is possible to save the life of a victim who has become infected with the rabies virus using vaccination. But it is advisable to start the course of anti-rabies vaccinations on the day of the injury. This is due to the fact that when the first signs of rabies appear, any drugs are ineffective.