Rabies is a deadly virus spread to humans from the saliva of infected animals, most commonly through a bite. The rabies virus travels to the brain following the peripheral nerves. Rabies transmission most commonly occurs through dogs but bats, coyotes, foxes and raccoons may also carry the virus. People who have been infected with rabies may not show signs for anywhere from 20 days to one year after being exposed. The closer the point of infection is to the head, the shorter the period of incubation.
Flu-Like Symptoms
Once patients show signs of rabies, survival is rare. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that as of 2010, there have been less than ten documented cases of survival of clinical rabies. The first symptoms of rabies include malaise, headache and fever. Dependent upon when the person's exposure occurred, there may not be an immediate correlation between the bite and the current symptoms, which present similarly to so many other viral infections. As the virus continues to attack the brain, patients will exhibit moments of mania and lethargy, eventually leading to coma.
Hydrophobia
The MayoClinic.com reports that hydrophobia, or fear of water, is a classic sign of rabies. In as little as one week post-exposure, people may begin to exhibit a fear of water, even when overwhelmingly thirsty. At this point in the illness, any attempt to drink liquids will cause severe spasms in the throat and diaphragm. Patients may exhibit drooling and excessive saliva production. Patients will also have difficulty swallowing due to paralysis of the jaw and throat, causing them to show panic when presented with liquids to drink.
Neurological Changes
As the virus progresses, patients will exhibit acute pain, violent movements, insomnia and depression. Patients may become anxious, jumpy, disoriented and suffer from seizures and convulsions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, patients will often complain of numbness and tingling at the site of exposure, and will often not respond to painful stimuli at the site. Patients will begin to suffer from delirium, hallucinations and abnormal behavior followed by moments of clarity. Pupils may dilate and patients may show an increased sensitivity to sound, light and temperature. When neurological symptoms present in the patient, death almost always follows within days.
