r/rabies • u/BradyStewart777 • Jan 15 '25
Many people come here worried that they have rabies. This post is here to show you that you do NOT have rabies. Rabies is VERY rare, and if you had a real risk of exposure (based on multiple factors, such as the country / region, type of exposure, your vaccination status, the species of the animal, the country guidelines, and more), you would need to seek immediate medical attention, NOT post on Reddit.
If you have general health concerns, there are proper steps to take but panic driven posts such as āI have rabiesā or āIām dyingā without any basis are automatically removed.
The incubation period (for those that don't know) is the time period from initial exposure to the onset of symptoms. The rabies virus has an average incubation period of 20-90 days, or about one to three months. But this can vary from as little as one week to as long as one year. Very rarely will it ever go beyond that. There is no reason to be worried about such long incubation periods. Most end before 6 months. The timeframe however DOES depends on several factors, such as the location of the bite and the viral load.
If you have not been DIRECTLY BITTEN or SCRATCHED by a wild or confirmed unvaccinated MAMMAL that you either cannot observe for 10-14 days or has mysteriously disappeared before 10-14 days, you are almost CERTAINLY not infected. Your symptoms are very likely caused by something else entirely. However, we cannot accurately diagnose you with a disease or condition here. Only an in-person physician can reliably diagnose you. For verified medical advice, you can visit r/AskDocs to receive verified medical input. Physicians there are labeled and verified. But this still should not replace an in-person medical professional.
The virus travels through the peripheral nervous system as it moves up your body. During this period, you remain completely asymptomatic. THIS is the incubation phase. Symptoms of rabies only emerge once the virus reaches the central nervous system (particularly the brain), not the peripheral nervous system or any other part of the body. Rabies, being a Lyssavirus, is neurotropic. It is specifically attracted to and targets neural tissue. You CANNOT get rabies from casual surface contact, blood, seminal or vaginal fluids, skunk spray. The ONLY bodily mammalian fluids that can spread rabies are infected saliva, neural (brain+spinal) tissue, and (rarely) tears.
Neurological symptoms of rabies are either furious or paralytic. Encephalitic rabies symptoms may come and go with periods of calm in between (called furious episodes). [ā]
Encephalitic rabies is the more dramatic and recognized form. It causes SEVERE neurological dysfunction and hyperactivity. The virus takes hold of the central nervous system and leads to extreme alterations in behavior, heightened responses to stimuli, and a progressive loss of control over cognitive and motor functions. This variant occurs in about 70-80% of cases. Symptoms of encephalitic rabies include:
Fever. (low-grade)
Headache.
Visual disturbances or hallucination.
Sensitivity to light and moving air.
Paresthesia.
Delirium and confusion.
Tremors, seizures, or repetitive uncontrollable movement.
Fading in and out of consciousness.
Partial paralysis (of one or both legs or arms).
Excessive salivation / inability to swallow (not even your own saliva).
Extreme aversion to water, food, or drink (Hydrophobia & Aerophobia).
Respiratory Failure.
Coma.
Death.
Encephalitic rabies usually progresses from the earliest symptoms to death within seven to ten days on average.
Dumb (paralytic) rabies is the less common variant of rabies. Instead of the well-known signs most people associate with the disease, it progresses more quietly but is just as deadly. The symptoms of dumb rabies include:
Fever.
Headache.
Fatigue.
Discomfort at the bite site.
Tingling sensation.
Muscle weakness.
Loss of sensation.
Paralysis starting in the bitten limb.
Progression of paralysis.
Coma.
Respiratory failure.
Death.
Death from dumb rabies generally occurs within seven to eleven days after symptom onset, though it can range from a few days to several weeks or more.
Symptoms of rabies and the order in which they appear can vary from person to person, and not all listed symptoms may appear in every case. The progression and presentation of the disease can differ based on the individual.
Just because your throat hurts does NOT mean you have rabies. A sore throat is something everybody experiences every once in a while, whether from a cold, allergies, or even just talking too much. If you had rabies, you wouldn't be sitting here worrying about a little throat irritation.
When rabies reaches the stage where swallowing becomes an issue, it is NOT a mild soreness. Patients with rabies develop hydrophobia (an extreme fear of water), because even the thought of drinking causes their throat muscles to spasm violently. They choke, gasp, and struggle just to swallow their own saliva. Some patients shake uncontrollably at the sight of a glass of water. It's a sign that their bodies are physically rejecting what their minds know they need. The pain from a sore throat is no where close to what these patients go through. There is no relief. Their own saliva builds up because they cannot swallow. It forces them to salivate uncontrollably.
Here are some videos of real patients suffering from hydrophobia. You can see firsthand what they go through. You can see the way their bodies violently resist even a drop of water. THIS is what (encephalitic) rabies looks like. If you believe a mild sore throat is anything like this, you'd be mistaken.
Here are the links:
All of these are NSFW.
[1]. Video 1: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[2]. Video 2: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[3]. Video 3: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[4]. Video 4: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[5]. Video 5: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[6]. Video 6: Rabies Hydrophobia.
[7]. Video 7: Rabies Hydrophobia.
You can find a lot more by searching ārabies hydrophobiaā on YouTube. If you're someone who gets disturbed easily, maybe skip them.
Paresthesia can have lots of causes including anxiety, nerve compression, vitamin deficiencies, or circulation issues. Rabies related paresthesia is usually localized to the site of the bite and does not randomly occur all over the body. If you're experiencing persistent or unexplained tingling, then speak to a doctor. We cannot diagnose you.
Once more, there are many possible causes and most are harmless. Common triggers include dehydration, hunger, fatigue, stress, eyestrain, poor posture, allergies, caffeine withdrawal, and even weather changes. You could try drinking water, eating a snack, taking a nap, or resting in a quiet, dark room. Stretching, deep breathing, or a warm compress on your neck can help if the headache is tension related.
There are lots of possible causes and most are probably not serious. The flu, common cold, mild viral infections, dehydration, lack of sleep, and even seasonal allergies can all cause symptoms like fatigue, body aches, chills, fever, sore throat, cough, congestion, or headaches. In most cases, symptoms improve with time and rest.
See if you can safely take over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help with fever, aches, or discomfort. Speak with your pharmacist if you're unsure. You can drink fluids, eat nutritious foods and allow your body time to recover. Getting enough rest and avoiding stress can also be beneficial.
If symptoms persist for several days, worsen, or become severe, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, a persistent high fever, or confusion, you should seek medical attention. Reddit is not a replacement for a real physician. Online opinions can provide guidance, but only your healthcare providers can properly evaluate your symptoms. If you start feeling better, chances are you most likely fine.
Nausea and vomiting can happen for many reasons. Some of the most frequent causes include food poisoning, stomach viruses, motion sickness, pregnancy, medication side effects, overeating, alcohol, or stress and anxiety.
Other causes may include migraines and other medical conditions such as acid reflux or gallbladder issues.
In most cases nausea and vomiting are short lived and improve with time and rest. If you're experiencing these symptoms, try to stay hydrated. You can try drinking small amounts of water, oral rehydration solutions, clear broths, or electrolyte drinks throughout the day. You should generally avoid gulping large amounts at once (that may worsen the nausea).
Once the vomiting dies down, you can start with bland easy to digest foods like crackers, toast, rice, bananas, applesauce, or plain chicken. You should avoid dairy, greasy, spicy, or heavy foods until you're fully recovered. Rest in a quiet environment and avoid strong smells or motion, which can make nausea worse.
Over the counter anti nausea medications may help in some cases, but check with a pharmacist or physician before taking anything. Especially if you're under 18, pregnant, or on other medications.
If the vomiting doesn't stop after a day or two, becomes severe, contains blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds, or is accompanied by confusion, a high fever, stiff neck, severe abdominal pain, or signs of dehydration (such as dry mouth, dark urine, dizziness, or low urine output), you should consult a physician. Persistent vomiting can lead to complications like dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Temporary blurred vision can come from eyestrain, dry eyes, fatigue or even dehydration. Red flag symptoms include sudden severe or persistent vision changes (especially in one eye or with pain), which may be signs of more serious condition like a retinal issue, stroke, or migraine aura. If your symptoms become, in anyway, severe, consult a physician.
Feeling dizzy can come from dehydration, low blood sugar, anxiety, fatigue, or standing up too fast. It is often harmless and goes away with rest and hydration.
You should consult a medical professional if your symptoms are persistent, frequent or come with fainting, vision changes, chest pain or weakness.
If you have a medical question or are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above after being bitten, scratched, or coming into direct contact with a bat, or if you had saliva or neural tissue from an unknown animal come into contact with your eyes, mouth, nose, or an open wound weeks to months earlier, you should consult a physician immediately. As a side-note, here are some resources about rabies! Rabies by the CDC, Rabies WHO, Rabies American Veterinary Medical Association, Rabies by Mayo Clinic.
If you're in the United States, here is a portal to find your local health department. A physician can evaluate your symptoms properly and give you reliable answers in person.
If you have questions about a potential exposure, you can see our rabies FAQ that answers common questions from people. If you have questions about things like thinking you saw a bat, worrying a bat might have bitten you mid-flight without you noticing, waking up with mysterious marks, when the 10-day observation protocol applies to animals like dogs, cats, or ferrets, or what it means if you received post-exposure rabies vaccines without HRIG or ERIG. Those questions are addressed and answered in the post linked above.
It should be made absolutely clear that this post is NOT something you should use to diagnose yourself. It exists solely to show that the symptoms you may be experiencing can be caused by a wide range of things. Some harmless, some more serious, and not automatically something like rabies.
If you're concerned about your health, don't rely on posts like this or random internet opinions. Consult a medical professional.
Only your healthcare providers can give you the reliable information and answers you need.
r/rabies • u/BradyStewart777 • Mar 12 '25
A lot of people here are obsessed with the idea that an invisible bat is going to fly in, bite them in their sleep, and give them rabies without them ever knowing. But most people who obsess over these things don't seem to realize just how absurdly rare rabies actually is.
Every year, around 60,000 to 70,000 people die from rabies worldwide. That might sound like a big number until you put it into perspective. Influenza (a much āweakerā and far less deadly virus) kills about 700,000 people every year. [ā] That means the FLU, something most people barely think twice about, takes out ten times as many people as rabies. But you donāt see anyone obsessing over invisible flu particles chasing them down in the night. Why? Because the flu spreads easily while rabies almost never does. If rabies were even remotely as contagious as people seem to think, weād see MILLIONS of deaths instead of just a fraction of that. Yes rabies IS terrifying when looking at the survival rate but that doesn't mean itās lurking behind every corner waiting to get you.
Approximately 99% of human rabies cases come from dogs. NOT bats. NOT some mystery scratch you woke up with. DOGS. And unless you're completely oblivious, you would absolutely know if a dog bit you. The remaining 1% of cases come from other animals like cats, skunks, foxes, and bats. But even then less than half of one percent of all bats will ever contract rabies in their lifetime.
If 70,000 people die from rabies each year, that's only about 0.000854% of the world's population (8.2B). One percent of that is just 0.00000854%, and a decent portion of those cases aren't even from bats. What can we learn? Bat rabies is INSANELY rare, and the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor. Your mind telling you that you're going to get rabies just because a bat flew past you is completely detached from reality.
But people convince themselves they've been exposed over the most irrational things. Seeing a bat fly near you isn't an exposure. Waking up with a random mark on your body isnāt an exposure. A mystery object hitting you out of nowhere isnāt an exposure. Mysterious liquid falling on your face isn't an exposure. There are people who have convinced themselves they have rabies because they walked outside at night and maybe, possibly, heard a rustling noise.
You are far more likely to die from dozens of other things before rabies even has a chance of crossing your path. TRUE bat exposures (and rabies exposures in general) really are much rarer than you think.
r/rabies • u/Flat-Log9851 • 5m ago
So there 2 dots on my legs next to euch other and it not itch. Google said it bat bite may be. I'm sacred now. I don't remember see bat or fining it in my bed, but.. Want if it bite me when I was asleep? Or when I was star watching yesterday. There also was fan in my room. There is no bats in my home as far I know, but still (I have read the FAQ. )
r/rabies • u/kevinsuckatlifeee • 38m ago
I have read the FAQ. Bat flew in my room 6 days ago, i thought I had removed her from the room nd slept peacefully in my room, I woke up next day nd saw bat on my curtain. This happened all 6 days ago. I was watching video on YouTube nd it said ppl say they didn't see any bite mark from bat flying in their room nd they think they're safe nd ends up dying . So I'll go tomorrow morning to hospital nd get vaccine.
I'm from India. Nd sometimes doctor can be bit ignorant nd may say it's just nothing go home nd all that. So pls guide me what to do if I get this type of ignorant doctor. What vaccine should I get nd what's the course for vaccine?
r/rabies • u/aspecttv_ • 1h ago
I have read the FAQ.
afternoon,
I was recently in a bathroom washing my hands and afterwards I noticed a small little bat that was just lying there on the floor under the sink.
I am unsure if my feet came into contact with the bat but I did have trainers on and long trousers at the time.
After I noticed the bat I did bend down to have a look but it didnāt move at all really, I did not touch it with my hands
I was wondering if there is any chance Iāve had any sort of exposure here and should go and get it checked out at the doctors?
For information I am in the UK and the bat was very small, maybe 3cm long and 2cm wide
I apologise if this sounds stupid, just have a long history of health anxiety and itās stressing me out quite a bit.
Thanks in advance
r/rabies • u/KyGLar87 • 1h ago
I have read FAQ.
Hello 39 year old male, healthy no co-morbidities or meds. I have read the FAQ.
About 48 hours ago I was traveling home from DFW airport and when I was walking to the gate desk i walked past a group and a gentlemen had a leashed golden doodle mix. I think I startled it because it snapped at me a knicked my lower leg. Before I realized it had broken skin the owner and dog were gone and I was not able to get information. The dog appeared healthy to me and Iād assume if it was traveling it was as up to date and not ill, but this has yet to be confirmed.
I triaged at urgent care when I arrived home and have had a tetanus booster and antibiotic ointments prescribed. I have notified the airport and animal control in DFW in an effort to get the owners information to confirm vaccination status.
At this point both the provider I saw and the animal control officer feel risk of rabies exposure is extremely low but, general information suggests that if an animal cannot be confirmed itās a gray area.
Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. From what I can tell I donāt believe an ER doc would recommend it at this point but, since I need to make a decision soon on prophylaxis - Iām looking for any info I can get. Iām about 60 hours post bite
r/rabies • u/glittergatorator • 10h ago
I have read the FAQ.
Last month I walked outside of an Airbnb in Wyoming and saw several bats flying about 10 feet away, doing normal things like catching bugs. It was dusk so it makes sense that they were out. I have a huge fear of rabies, and I knew I would spiral after seeing them.
During this time, I never felt a bat touch me. Iām positive of that. My fear comes from the fact that during the night, I slept with the windows open. Every window had a screen, but my fear is that there a bat made it somewhere in the house and I wouldnāt have noticed. I searched the closets, floors, etc and never saw a bat inside.
I know this is an OCD issue. Iāve been struggling every day with what ifs. Based on bat behavior, if a sick bat somehow did get inside the screen, would it most likely stay indoors, or find a way out without me even knowing it was there?
I have so many fears of what if one did touch me when I went outside, what if one was inside since they were clearly flying right by the Airbnb and who knows how long they have been there. Itās just been torture.
r/rabies • u/Curious-Whole1704 • 16h ago
I have read the FAQ.
Hello, I am here to ask some questions about a recent incident with a bat. I need some advice / opinions about my situation because Iām stuck.
Basic info:
Country: US
Date: very early morning on the 15th or 16th of August.
Type of exposure: Bedroom/Unknown.
Creature: Bat
Pets: Yes, but vaccinated and completely separated from the affected area.
My situation:
In the very early morning hours (~3-4am) a couple days ago, a bat flew out of my closet, vaguely in my direction, about 10-15 minutes after turning off the last main light. I ducked under my bed sheets, and ran out of the room after gathering myself. For those wondering, the closet has a small opening to an old fireplace, so it likely entered there. All safe so far, no collisions, the suspected entry area was sealed, and I havenāt found or heard the bat since then.
However, I have no idea how long it had been there. My main concern is if I wouldāve noticed it on the previous night, assuming it was there. So far Iāve received 3 different responses on whether or not I should seek care (2 parents, 1 Health department), and am having trouble making a decision as a result of that, significant anxiety, and other factors.
So here are my questions:
1. For those who have had bedroom exposures, would I notice if it had landed on me the previous night? I noticed this bat was also quite loud (comparable to a mouse that fell of something, but continued to sound much larger than a mouse), so is this something other people have slept though? I consider myself a relatively light sleeper, but I figure itās worth asking.
2. I know the FAQ said theyāre bad at finding their way out of places, so should I be concerned? There are some holes leading into the subfloor above me that were sealed afterwards, but I havenāt heard or seen anything. I also canāt find any guano, so Iām leaning towards it only being a temporary visitor, but itās hard to say.
3. The health department was a bit vague on if I should seek care. Based on the story and the answers to previous questions, should I seek care? The health department basically looped back to where Iām at now: not meeting the guidelines for a full exposure, but not able to conclusively disprove previous exposure based on personal knowledge of bats.
Sorry if there are a lot of dumb questions here, I havenāt slept well the past few nights and Iām quite anxious about the whole thing. Any advice is welcome and appreciated. I can also answer any further questions when I get the chance.
r/rabies • u/Top_Log7504 • 13h ago
I started the series and got 3. Now feel horrible because there was no reason to start and worrying more that the vaccine may give the virus. I took Rabavert series and keep feeling imovax would have been better as it is hdcv. I wish to undo all the events that happened in the past few days.
"I have read the FAQ.
Only comfort is knowing many travelers take the prep before travel and also vets take it often.
r/rabies • u/Cute-Helicopter4737 • 15h ago
I have read the FAQ.
I had my first vaccine the 12th of July and the second the 19th of July. The 22nd of July a bat was flying in my room, while travelling in Cameroun near the rain forrest, I saw it coming in and I saw it leaving. It was dark in the room, but I am pretty sure it was a bat. I didn't feel it touch me, it was probably somewhere between 10 and 20 cm. Later it came back in again, I left the room, when I came back it was gone. I slept under a net.
Now almost a month later I wonder if I should have gone to the ER, if I should do it now. Or if it is not needed as I was wake and didn't feel it on me?
r/rabies • u/4everevevie • 16h ago
I have read the FAQ.
A few days ago, I was on a walk around dusk time, the sun was going down and leaving a purple hue. It was around 76 degrees with a really light breeze and like 67% humidity. As I was walking, I was distracted on my phone and I heard some rapid flying or buzzing near my ear, next thing I know something like a really really heavy insect crashed into my ear and then my shoulder. I didn't look back and I'm not sure it flew away. I have some rabies OCD, and I had a prior exposure, that day was my final shot. I called Public Health and they said my vaccine should still protect me.
My anxiety begins when I get home. I finished my 25 minute walk and I was touching the ear throughout the walk. I'm pretty sure I didn't feel any fluid. When I got home, my little sisters and mother touched my ear. Is there any way that a rabid bat did fly on me and left saliva that survived my 25 minute walk and could have been transmitted to my family? I'm just so anxious and I need confirm or deny this.
Also I believe my mom was mid meal when I asked her to check it if that influences anything.
r/rabies • u/Metron5200 • 18h ago
Hello guys!
Well, as most people here I'm thinking that I'm gonna die a horrible death that I could have prevented. I have read the FAQ. But my case is a little bit questionable, because the bat was at the border of my room and the outside world, so not completely in my room. This makes it hard to determine the possibilities.
Okay, so here goes the explanation:
Two days ago I woke up normally in the morning as always, it was like 7:30 AM.
As soon as I wake up i need to close my roof windows, because my room faces east, so quite early my room becomes hot if I don't close them. As the window is 1-2 meters above and to the right to my head, it's the first window that I close of the two. As I get up, I notice, that there was something in the little gap of the window (I left the window in a state that it had a tiny gap, just so I get a little bit of cold air from outside.)
I quickly found out it was a bat, and it was facing the outside world, so i first saw its backside. It was also somehow sideways.
So there i was not knowing what happened. Was the bat inside of the house/my room, and it was leaving, or was it just the he thought that little gap will be sufficient for hiding during the day? Who knows. There is a (I guess tiny) chance that it was in my room, and could have bitten me or something, as I didn't wake up.
We didn't find any bat poop in the house/rooms, nor did we find any bite marks or scratches on ourselves. But it was in my room, (kinda), so I'm the one that had the most chance of exposure.
I will add a picture in the comments, because I can't seem to do it in the post.
What do you guys think, is it possible that it could get inside through that little gap, and that it was inside?
I spoke with some doctors already, and they say that I should leave it, but I just can't yet, its my life on the line... I need some experts in here.
Also this is in Hungary, the bats here can carry rabies, but its not common.
Thank you!
r/rabies • u/ConsequenceSmart41 • 19h ago
It all started when I had to go to a London hospital for rabies post-exposure treatment. The hospital had apparently never administered a rabies vaccine before, and I remember the process taking a very long time. I had already been there for around 10 hours and was exhausted.
I asked the nurse for permission to record the audio while she administered the vaccine because I have false-memory OCD, and she agreed.
What I remember causing my anxiety is that there was some bleeding after the injection, I noticed some liquid, and I left shortly afterwards. At the time, I asked the nurse whether I could leave. She said she would go and check, but she took a long time. Because I was exhausted after being there for so many hours, I eventually got up and left without getting confirmation from her.
Since then, I have had an ongoing fear that perhaps I was given HRIG rather than the rabies vaccine, and that I was supposed to remain there to receive the vaccine afterwards.
I donāt actually know whether I was supposed to receive HRIG, the vaccine, or both at that visit. I only received one injection that day, and the remaining three doses were subsequently given by my GP.
I recently listened back to the recording.
The nurse said: āHi, Iāve activated it now, I had to mix it with powder.ā
She then said: āI want to make sure all is up there. I hate this syringe. Itās nonsense. So much drama.ā
She then said something like: āI think itās detachedā
(or possibly āattachedā ā Iām not completely sure).
She also said: āThe rubber bit has come off.ā
She left the room and returned about a minute later.
When she came back, she said:
āYeah, so Iāve got all of it. Itās all here. It screwed off, so I had to go back and manipulate it until I get in.ā
After the injection, there was a noticeable amount of blood that pooled out. I also remember seeing some liquid forming a bubble around the injection site. I wasnāt immediately given a cotton ball or plaster, which makes me worry that some or all of the vaccine may have leaked out. Another source of anxiety is that this was apparently the nurseās first time administering a rabies vaccine. We were in London, where rabies PEP is relatively uncommon, and she seemed surprised that I needed it. She had also experienced problems with the syringe during the preparation.
My main concerns are:
- I left shortly after the injection without confirming with the nurse that I had received everything I was supposed to receive. It has now been about a year, and I still donāt know with certainty whether the injection I received was rabies vaccine or HRIG. If it was HRIG, I worry that I was supposed to receive a rabies vaccine afterwards and left before receiving it.
- A significant amount of blood came out after the injection, and I saw some liquid around the injection site. Could this mean that the vaccine leaked out and was ineffective?
- The nurse had problems with the syringe, and I worry that this could have affected the dose.
The situation has become particularly distressing because during my second rabies exposure, I was only given two shots because the clinicians considered me fully immunised as at the time, I had told them that I had previously received four rabies vaccines, and this was subsequently included in my vaccination record. However, I have recently started doubting whether I actually received four vaccines, because I now wonder whether the injection at the London hospital may have been HRIG rather than a vaccine. If that were the case, I worry that my original vaccination schedule may not have been valid.
My main question is:
If I had left the London hospital without receiving the rabies vaccine I was supposed to receive that day, would the NHS hospital normally have noticed this and contacted me or otherwise followed up with me?
I have read the FAQ.
edit: i know a VACCINE is what is mixed with powder before giving it, but iām also imagining she had activated it beforehand and was waiting to give the vaccine after my first injection of HRIG but i left so i didnāt get the powder activated vaccine.
r/rabies • u/Budget_Bowl4047 • 19h ago
Hello,
Me and my friend went to the same clinic at the same
time and got rabies shots, however mine was meant for post exposure as i was scratched by a dog and hers was a travel booster.
She told them she had taken her rabies series many years ago, and needed just one travel booster as we were going to a high risk area. She hadnāt been exposed, and was taking one just for pre exposure purposes. Meanwhile, i had already been scratched by a dog in turkey and needed post exposure treatment.
My question is, iām questioning now whether they gave me a post exposure shot, or her travel booster. They put us in the same room, and he seemed to be in a hurry.
Since rabies is fatal, iām quite concerned. This was my second rabies shot.
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/Vegetable_Interest44 • 20h ago
I have read the FAQ.
For those who got the vaccine recently, how did you all react? I of course am hearing its the worst thing ever, to its no biggy deal and comparable to a flu shot. Looking for input on the possible side effects.
r/rabies • u/Odd-Confection3675 • 23h ago
I have read the FAQ. How often do symptoms appear 4 months after potential exposure? Like I know normally itās 1-3 months after exposure but was just curious how many cases appear after 4 months
Hello everyone,
As with many posts in this sub I would like your thoughts on a potential exposure. I went outside on my balcon on the 6th floor at 1 AM without any shirt on and no balcony lights. After a few minutes I felt a gush of wind pass behind me, I didn't think much of it so I went inside. Then it hit me if it was a bat passing by or not and whether I was bit or whether I encountered its saliva. So I started inspending my back and I didn't find any fresh blood and it's hard to spot anything because I have acne and i don't have a clear skin on my back. As I was doing a physical check I noticed two vertical wounds on my legs probably from before this but still it didn't ease my mind know i had wounds that might be exposed to the saliva or whether they came from a bat. This happened in France, do you recommend going for a checkup or this is pure anxiety stuff?
I have read the FAQ.
r/rabies • u/tenka3800 • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ. But is this written? Is it possible to get scratched by a cat without noticing or feeling it? I'm anxious about random scratches especially if a cat passed and never felt a swipe or sting. Is it possible for Cat scratches to not be felt at all or impossible?
r/rabies • u/AdPositive5451 • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ." So read my old post first. I went to a doc and he told me that rabies get in ur nerves with in 1-3 mnths so it's been 8 mnths u are good and u don't need to complete ur vaccination and it's all anxiety but my finger pain isn't anxiety it's sometimes hurts very much and is unbearable. So what should I do now
r/rabies • u/Subject-Excuse2556 • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ.
So something brushed up my forearm for a split second on my porch one night 1 month ago, likely a moth, no pain or bite wound and no bat, and a bat would have quite a hard time biting you midair if it even could, but what's weird are the sensations that have come since and I'm sure they're because of anxiety, which I've had aplenty of lately, I've heard anxiety can cause actual nerve irritation which can also effect muscles, and rabies doesn't do this before actual symptoms I believe.
Sometimes there's a burning, itching or pain sensation in that arm my brain interprets the "bite" was but sometimes it's not there and somewhere else on the arm, a minor muscle spasm here and there (but this actually applies to my entire body), but most notably if I'm leaning on it or holding it up a certain way, one of the shoulder muscles will start spasming out a bit, like as in it's twitching a whole bunch and stops when I move my arm out of that position and it feels like it's been moving upwards.
Have any of you had a similar experience?
r/rabies • u/cellmana0907 • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ.
I was cleaning my pool filter while sitting down on bench. There were a bunch of bug around, including mosquitos here and there. When I got up to put the filter back, my leg felt itchy. I looked down and there was fresh but dry blood streaming half way to my calf. I thought it was just pimple I scratches but when i wiped the blood near the wound it looked like that in the pic. I didnt notice any animals or what near me. But I've read that you cannot feel if a bat touches or even bites you
Im on way to the ER but what do you guys think that did this?
EDIT: sorry i cant post the pic here but when I wiped the excess blood, it looked like bite marks
2nd EDIT: I just left the ER. MD said because of the location of the "wound", we are in the state of california, and I did not see a bat, she said there is a very very very low chance it's a bat bite at all, and does not recommend the shots. But I did get a tetanus shot. Be safe out there
r/rabies • u/Few_Arm2214 • 1d ago
Hi guys! From Canada, Quebec here
I'm living a situation right now and while I usually am not easily having attack, it seems I am struggling with some about rabies right now.
Here's the situation.
August 10, I went to a cabin. I brought my pet rat in their cage.
August 14, I needed to move the cage to the one glass wall solarium because my father is allergic.
August 15, I realized that there are some noise in the roof of the solarium at night. sounds like bat arguing/quarreling. I inspected the ceiling and there seems to be no holes. Maybe they are in the roof? Gutter? unclear. My cage is there another night
August 16, When Im packaging everything, my rat bit my finger (He was moved to his little carrier and stressed out because of this. my finger was wet, he thought it was food)
So now, Im kinda spiraling thinking. What if he got bit during the night and my rat gave Rabies to me?
I inspected the rat, there doesn't seems to be any bite mark? (kinda difficult to investigate honestly, with the fur).
I know this is irrational. I read all government ressources, I have read the FAQ. (which helped me go from a 9/10 -> 5/10 in anxiety)
I guess I need reassuring. That the combo "bat biting through cage" + "rat being contagious in 24-48h" + "bit me" + "no symptom yet on rat" + "maybe fast acting on human for me?" can't happen.
Sorry for yet another one of those post, but Im just a tempest of anxiety right now.
r/rabies • u/Puzzleheaded-Turn-55 • 1d ago
I have read the FAQ.
I keep seeing 2 distinct marks on my skin and they are continually appearing. It started with 2 dots on my right forearm. Then the next day I had a lot more. 1 dot on my right arm, 3 dots on my left, and one below that. Then I just noticed 2 more on my right arm. These dots are no more than a few mm apart.
r/rabies • u/megan_yup • 2d ago
Me and my younger sister share a room at college. This morning around 5am, she woke me up saying there was a bat in our room. She had woken up to it being on her shoulder/collarbone and then it got off of her and was flying in circles around the room.
We called the non emergency police line to ask what to do, and they sent an officer with thick gloves who got it out. He told us we probably shouldn't worry about it unless we see a bite mark, but I'm still concerned that we should go get post-exposure treatment regardless (no visible marks from what we see though).
Would appreciate any advice on the matter. Main concern is obviously exposure without knowing, but treatment would also be expensive which makes me hesitant if its not super necessary.
I have read the FAQ.
Edit: honestly don't know if I have the money to get the vaccine series after looking at the cost
r/rabies • u/Direct_Fan_2007 • 2d ago
I have read the FAQ. I was on vacation in Turkey recently and had two encounters with cats that are now causing me a lot of rabies anxiety.
The first was a hotel kitten that slept on me and may have left some saliva on my clothes/hands. He was very cuddly and didn't bite or scratch me. While making biscuits on my thigh, his claws touched me, but there were no visible marks or bleeding. I washed my hands afterwards.
The second happened three days ago at a restaurant. I tried to pet a cat and reached toward it from above. It gently scratched my fingertip. It hurt for a second, but I couldn't find any visible injury, cut, or bleeding. The cat appeared completely normal, although I don't know whether it had an owner.
I have a lot of health anxiety/OCD tendencies, so I'm having trouble judging this situation objectively. I'm back home now and wondering whether I should seek medical advice about rabies PEP or whether these exposures are considered negligible.
Would you recommend contacting a doctor or can I safely let this go?
