I was bit by a street dog in connaught place Delhi. It scratched my hand and a bite mark in my leg. I do not have money for vaccination right now. What should I do. What are the chances of the dog being rabid? How do I know I have rabies or not?

Dr. Lalit Kumar TripathyGeneral Physician40yrs exp

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Rabies is due to a virus which is transmitted to human being by the bite of infected wild animals like wolve, jackals, fox, wild bat, dog, cat, monkey etc. The incubation period (the period between the bite and appearence of symptoms) may vary from 10-90 days. Some times it can develop as early as within 4 days. (the vius is present in saliva of infected anima (even if bitten/scratched) l and is contagious. A bite in face, neck, head will have shorter ip than bite in arm/leg. The initial symptoms are similar to flu like fever, headache, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite feeling unwell, anxiety which lasts for 2-10 days. Then severe symptoms like aggressive behaviour, auditory/visual hallucination, anxiety, insomnia confusion, agitation, increased salivation, seizure, mild or partial paralysis, difficulty in swallowing, fear of water (hydrophobia). Death occurs in few days due to respiratory failure treatment 1. Thorough washing/flushing of the wound with soap and wate for 15 minutes, injection tt, antibiotic. 2. Remove cloth contaminated by saliva 3. You have to take 5 doses of rabipur vaccine 6. Consult doctor for further advice. 

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