Rabies is a deadly disease caused by rhabdoviruses. The main source of infection is animals whose permanent habitat is wildlife. However, there is a risk of transmission of the pathogen during the bite of pets. Immediately after receiving even a minor injury (if the saliva of the animal was in contact with damaged skin), you must contact a medical facility and get an anti-rabies vaccination. The urgency is due to the fact that rabies is incurable. When the first signs of the disease appear, any therapeutic measures are ineffective.
Why does a person need a rabies vaccine?
Even in the modern world, according to statistics, 50,000 people die every year from pathology. In most cases, the death is due to untimely access to a medicalinstitution.
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 must be given as soon as possible, otherwise even it will not help.
Rabies is a pathology that has claimed thousands of lives. French microbiologist Louis Pasteur tried to stop mortality. He conducted numerous studies, the result of which was a rabies vaccine for humans. Thanks to this, in just a year, it was possible to reduce the mortality rate by several times. The rabies vaccine for humans was developed in 1885. Over the next 12 months, a French microbiologist perfected it.
The vaccine is still in use today. This is due to the high risk of rabies infection from both wild and domestic pets. At the same time, 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
The rabies vaccine is not for everyone. The rabies vaccine is listed in the national calendar, but with a note that it is only administered for epidemic indications. This means that it is intended for certain categories of citizens. The drug can also 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 symptomsdiseases. In addition, doctors recommend vaccinating people who are planning to travel to potentially dangerous regions.
Who is required to be vaccinated:
- Vets.
- People whose professional activities are related to the capture and keeping of homeless animals.
- Laboratory workers who have to periodically encounter a pathogen during research.
- People working in slaughterhouses.
- Hunters.
- Taxidermists.
- Foresters.
In the human body, the 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
Anti-rabies vaccine, if necessary, is given to everyone. The annotation to the drug states that the contraindication is the age of up to 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 the rabies virus to humans is excluded. Vaccination is not available in the following cases:
- The saliva of the animal did not come into contact with the skin in the area of violation of its integrity.
- Tissue injury occurred with the claws of a bird. Saliva on the legs of birds is excluded. Due to these scratches from the clawspose no danger.
- A wild or domestic animal has bitten a person through thick clothing. Typically, there is no through-hole damage in these situations.
- Violation of the integrity of the skin was 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 bites are on the face, arms or neck, vaccination is indicated even if the lesions are 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. Moreover, each injection was accompanied by pronounced painful sensations. Currently, a modern vaccine is used in practice, which involves only 6 injections. The drug is guaranteed to prevent the development of pathology, but injections must be given on strictly defined days.
Rabies is a disease with a long incubation period. That is why it is so important to complete 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, immunoglobulin is necessarily injected directly into the damaged area. This manipulation prevents 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 emergency vaccination is done:
- 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 arrive at the emergency room within a few hours after the bite.
- The second injection is given on the 3rd day after the first injection.
- The third time the drug is administered on the seventh day.
- The fourth injection is given 2 weeks after the first injection.
- Fifth injection on day 30.
This emergency vaccination schedule is a classic. In some cases, doctors give the sixth shot 3 months after the first shot.
Algorithm for routine vaccination:
- On the day appointed by the doctor, the patient comes to the medical facility. There, he is injected with the drug for the first time.
- Second injection shown 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, a preventive course is carried out 1 time in 3 years. Schedulerabies vaccination is reflected in the national vaccination calendar.
Regarding to which part of the body the drug is injected. A few years ago, injections were made into the subcutaneous tissue. Currently, the drug is administered intramuscularly. For children over 16 years of age and adults, the injection is carried out in the outer contour of the shoulder (deltoid muscle).
If a wild animal has bitten a small child, the drug is injected into the thigh area. Do not inject into the buttock. 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. Doctors recommendation:
- After the administration of the drug, it is forbidden to drink alcohol-containing drinks. Even a small amount of alcohol can significantly worsen a person's condition. Immediately before the administration of the drug, the doctor warns that it is unacceptable to drink alcohol-containing drinks for the next few days. In this regard, it is recommended to do routine vaccinations not on days that are holidays 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. It is not recommended to swim in the reservoirs for one week. 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 some infectiousdisease.
- Some patients are interested in how long after the drug is allowed to walk. Doctors say that immediately after the injection. However, hypothermia and overheating must be avoided. Thus, you can walk, but the time spent in the cold and under the scorching sun must be reduced.
- Quarantine after receiving the vaccine is not necessary. The victim is monitored for 2 weeks. 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 considered he althy. In this case, the vaccination course may be suspended.
- Missing 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 again increases significantly. If a person mixed up 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 give up alcohol, swimming in water bodies. 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. The side effects of rabies vaccination are due to individual he alth and immune system conditions. In addition, the risk of their appearance increases significantly if vaccination rules are not followed.
Possible side effects after drug administration:
- Redness at the injection site. Pain and itching also often appear in this area. Swelling may occur.
- Weakness.
- Migraine attacks.
- Dizziness.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Nausea.
- Pain in the abdomen.
- Slight muscle discomfort.
- Allergic reaction resulting in hives.
- Increased body temperature.
The most unpleasant consequence is a disruption in the functioning of the nervous system. Decreased sensitivity is the most common complication. However, it goes away on its own after a few weeks.
Despite the impressive list of side effects, vaccination is carried out in any case. This is due to the fact that human life is at stake.
Where to get vaccinated, existing vaccines
The drug should be in every budgetary medical institution. These include: feldsher-midwife stations, 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 paramedical station.
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, made in India.
- KAV. This is a Russian-made vaccine. Herthe difference from Kokav lies in the dosage. KAV has less active component.
- Dry inactivated rabies vaccine.
Included with them are immunoglobulins. As mentioned above, if necessary, they are injected 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 process of producing antibodies to the pathogen. Information about which medications are compatible with the rabies vaccine and which are not will be provided by the doctor during the examination. It is possible that therapeutic measures will need to be stopped for some time.
Vaccination is not recommended during chemotherapy, radiation or immunosuppressive treatment. In addition, the drug is incompatible with hormonal agents, cytostatics, as well as with medicines that are designed to fight malaria.
In conclusion
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 should contact a medical facility as soon as possible. In addition, pets are also potentially dangerous. Currently, the life of a victim infected with the rabies virus can be saved with the help of vaccination. But it is advisable to start a course of anti-rabies vaccinations on the day of injury. This is due to the fact that when the firstsigns of rabies, any drugs are ineffective.
