1. Act Quickly
You must seek prompt medical attention if a potentially rabid animal bites you. Treat the wound by washing it with soap and water as soon as possible, but let it bleed; this can help your body eliminate any traces of the virus that may be lingering at the site of the wound. Your doctor will determine the likelihood that you were exposed to rabies after you suffer an animal bite. You should present your doctor with all relevant information, including the location of the incident, the type of animal, how the animal behaved and whether it was domesticated or wild. If your doctor decides there's a realistic likelihood that you were exposed to the rabies virus, therapy will begin at once.
2. Begin Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Treatment consists of a series of shots given over a period of 4 weeks. This procedure is known as post-exposure prophylaxis, and it includes a rabies vaccine and an immune globulin administered over six separate injections.
3. Prevent Infection With Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a preventative vaccine which you should consider if you live in an area that hosts a large population of wild animals, or if you're traveling to parts of the world with lax animal control standards. Pre-exposure prophylaxis introduces the same vaccine and immune globulins as are used with post-exposure treatment, but in differing doses. Some patients experience mild side effects after receiving the vaccine. Side effects are usually limited to skin irritation at the site of the vaccine injection, mild nausea, headache, dizziness or muscle aches, all of which your doctor can help relieve.
