HomeAnswersDermatologyrabiesI bit my wife. Should my wife take an anti-rabies vaccine?

Is rabies a contagious disease?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At January 7, 2018
Reviewed AtFebruary 15, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I was bitten by a dog 13 days ago. I took anti-rabies vaccine after 25 hours of the bite. I have taken three vaccines until now. I had oral sex with my wife and by mistake, I bit her at neck two days ago. Should she also receive the anti-rabies vaccine? The dog is still alive.

Answered by Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Contact with someone who is receiving rabies vaccination does not constitute rabies exposure and does not require post-exposure prophylaxis.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

Generally, can a person in incubation period transmit rabies to the other person through biting?

Answered by Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Theoretically yes. However, in most humans, it has occurred with organ transplants.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

If the virus has not reached the salivary gland of the person at the time of biting, can rabies be transmitted? And is it like with a dog bite, the dog becomes dead after biting? Can humans also die within 10 days of the bite?

Answered by Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Rabies can happen only if the virus is present in saliva or salivary glands and not otherwise. Usually, the salivary presence of the virus and brain infection occur simultaneously. So when an animal or human starts showing signs of brain infection, the virus is usually present in saliva and the animal or human dies soon within a week or 10 days. Please note that dog bites usually happen after a brain infection in the animal when it becomes aggressive.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sushil Kakkar
Dr. Sushil Kakkar

Dermatology

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