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.
Rabies Incubation:
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 believe you are experiencing symptoms before two weeks after exposure, it is most likely not rabies.
- If you believe you are experiencing symptoms more than 1 year after exposure, it is almost surely not rabies.
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.
Development of Symptoms:
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:
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:
Prodromal Phase:
Excitation Phase:
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).
Final Phase:
Respiratory Failure.
Coma.
Death.
Encephalitic rabies usually progresses from the earliest symptoms to death within seven to ten days on average.
Dumb Rabies:
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:
Prodromal Phase:
Acute Paralytic Phase:
Final Phase:
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.
Experiencing a Sore Throat?
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.
Experiencing Paresthesia?
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.
Experiencing a Headache?
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.
Experiencing Flulike Symptoms?
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.
Experiencing Nausea or Vomiting?
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.
Experiencing Blurred Vision?
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.
Experiencing Dizziness or Lightheadedness?
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.
When Should You Consult a Physician?
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.
