Is Rabies Vaccination Taken After Being Licked By A Dog An Over-dosage?

Posted on Fri, 8 Sep 2017

Question: 1 year and 4 months ago I take 4 shot antirabies vaccine Intramuscular route up to 14days ( actually 5shot, Dr told 3 is enough since cat didn't died but took extra 1 so totally 4 but full course is 5)
Last week I suspect a stray dog licked my wound ( I don't know but fear) , I go to hospital they told another 4 shot ID antirabies vaccine, so for day0.3 and 7 is over shall I take 28th day shot ? Iam I overdosing ? 8shot within 2 year? I'm already too thin below normal BMI, I'm in fear of getting cancer from this vaccine from last week, After reading it has cancer substance and overdose is not recommended

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Further details needed.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query and understand your concerns. As I can understand, the previous incident was more than a year back. Please clarify if the supposed dog lick was at that time or whether it happened recently. If recent, let me know whether you had an active fresh raw would. If you had a raw wound, please mention its location and how you got it. Based on that I will let you know if you need any further intervention.

Please be informed that it is no use taking the remaining shots now. If you are talking about a dog lick of 1 year 4 months back, if you were to get rabies from that, you would have been DEAD by now. Since I assume that not to be the case, I do not think that you need any further doses. There is nothing called 'overdose' in this case but that does not justify taking extra doses either. You need not worry about cancer from such doses. Taking spaced out doses over a period of 2 years does not help.

Let me know if I could help further.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (39 minutes later)

Lick incident this month, Dog licked the hand when im in ground, when i reached home i found a wound im my middle finger (like accidental scratch, skin teared) dog licked near wrist, i feared and go to clinic 2 days later , doctor prescribed as catogry 2 bit 4shot IDARV, dog is ok on 14th day as my friend told but i searched one day this week and cant find that, day after tomorrow 28th day shot , im so confused and fear of rabies and vaccine , headach of overthinking too

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (5 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Stop panicking

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. For the moment forget that you ever got vaccinated. The 28th day calculation therefore does not come into picture. I suppose that the 'wound' on your middle finger was not a serious and raw one. Unless that is the case I assume that you would need to worry about the lick. Furthermore, since it is already 2 days or more from the lick, I do not suppose that you need to panic. If you had gotten rabies, you would already have started exhibiting symptoms and would have been on your way to death. Since that is not the case, you are possibly overthinking.

Stop panicking unnecessarily.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (29 minutes later)

So shall I stop taking 28th day shot /4th shot ? Is there problem or not recommended if I take 4th /28th day shot? I know it is difficult to answer 'what if' question, sorry sir

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Stop worrying.

Detailed Answer:
28th day does not exist. The 28th day is long gone (more than a year back). It will not come back. It will not impart extra protection. If that was needed and you had not received it, you would have been dead by now. The fact that you are not dead cannot be replaced by 'what if' you are dead. Therefore the 'what if' for the 28th day shot does not arise.

PS> I hope it is ok to assume that you are not dead. Stop worrying. Pardon me for bluntly stating the facts.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana