Rabies and Rabies Vaccine

Rabies is a disease that develops following exposure of the central nervous system and causes a severe encephalitis. It is a zoonosis that is transmitted to humans and animals by infected saliva through the bite of rabid or domestic animals. Once the clinical symptoms develop, the disease is invariably fatal for humans and all animals, except bats. Deaths usually occurs due to cardiac failure. The disease seen in humans and mammals may have an acute onset, with depressed mentation and agitation, and later progresses to encephalitis and coma. Although there are many clinical cases that have been prevented with post-exposure prophylaxis, only a few case that were rescued after symptoms occurred have been notified. Therefore, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis are very important.