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Is Rabies Vaccination Required For A Dog Scratch?
Question: Hi!! On April 11 a dog walked over my foot .I din't see any scratch mark . and I thought I will observe the dog for 10 days so I din't take any PEP. But from may 5th d dog started showing signs and symptoms of rabies and died on may 9th. I started PEP from may 10th. I am tensed now as I started PEP late. During the observation period d dog was healthy. Also previously I had taken 5 doses of PEP twice in 2007 and 2010. Kindly help. Am I at risk?
Brief Answer:
No possibility if rabies in this incident
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your query .
I'm Dr. Shuba Hariprasad and will be answering your query today.
Rabies spreads by transfer of body fluids from an infected dog /animal through an open wound or a bite.
Since you didn't have any scratches and the dog just walked over you, there is no possibility of rabies due to this incident.
Previous vaccination can have an extended effect. This depends of how effect your immune system was during the vaccinations.
You don't need the vaccinations now.
You will be just fine.
Hope this helps.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
No possibility if rabies in this incident
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your query .
I'm Dr. Shuba Hariprasad and will be answering your query today.
Rabies spreads by transfer of body fluids from an infected dog /animal through an open wound or a bite.
Since you didn't have any scratches and the dog just walked over you, there is no possibility of rabies due to this incident.
Previous vaccination can have an extended effect. This depends of how effect your immune system was during the vaccinations.
You don't need the vaccinations now.
You will be just fine.
Hope this helps.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Suppose there was a scratch mark then what about the 10 days observation period? Can u throw some light on it? N can minor abrasions with only the superficial skin torn transmit the disease?
Brief Answer:
Unlikely rabies transmission
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow up.
Even if there was a superficial scratch, it had to come in contact with the dog's saliva. This is not the case.
The observation period holds true for any dog bite but as the dog's saliva did not come in contact with you, rabies transmission is not possible.
It is less likely (less than 5‰) to contract rabies through a superficial scratch than a bite. That too, as mentioned above, should come in contact with the dog's saliva.
Hope I've reassured you
Please let me know if I can help you with anything else.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
Unlikely rabies transmission
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow up.
Even if there was a superficial scratch, it had to come in contact with the dog's saliva. This is not the case.
The observation period holds true for any dog bite but as the dog's saliva did not come in contact with you, rabies transmission is not possible.
It is less likely (less than 5‰) to contract rabies through a superficial scratch than a bite. That too, as mentioned above, should come in contact with the dog's saliva.
Hope I've reassured you
Please let me know if I can help you with anything else.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
I want to about the 10 day observation thing. I have given the dates. The dog died 28 days after the exposure n showed symptoms after 24 days. That is beyond the 10 days observation period. Can you explain to me about that. Suppose there was a deep bite instead of a superficial scratch then is there any risk.?
Brief Answer:
10 days from virus entering saliva to development of symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow up.
The time period from when the rabies virus enters the saliva of the dog and appearance of rabies symptoms in the dog is 10 days.
So if an apparently healthy dog bites someone, it should be quarantined and observed for any development of symptoms of rabies for 10days.
If it develops symptoms after 10 days (24 days based on your query) the rabies virus would not have been present in its saliva and it could not have infected a person by biting.
A deep scratch or open wound does pose a threat of contracting rabies if it comes into contact with the infected dog's saliva.
If the dog bit you and it was fine during the 10 day period afterward, then it couldn't have passed on the virus as it would not have been present in its saliva. So in this case you would be safe from rabies..
Hope I've answered your questions.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
10 days from virus entering saliva to development of symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow up.
The time period from when the rabies virus enters the saliva of the dog and appearance of rabies symptoms in the dog is 10 days.
So if an apparently healthy dog bites someone, it should be quarantined and observed for any development of symptoms of rabies for 10days.
If it develops symptoms after 10 days (24 days based on your query) the rabies virus would not have been present in its saliva and it could not have infected a person by biting.
A deep scratch or open wound does pose a threat of contracting rabies if it comes into contact with the infected dog's saliva.
If the dog bit you and it was fine during the 10 day period afterward, then it couldn't have passed on the virus as it would not have been present in its saliva. So in this case you would be safe from rabies..
Hope I've answered your questions.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Wish you good health.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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