Dr. Satpute Ganeshkumar Suresh
Internal Medicine
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I came here for a second opinion and to get answers to some questions. I spoke to a doctor of general medicine today for my rabies anxiety. The incidents were as follows. Four years ago, a German shepherd of my friend scratched my hand. The dog died one and a half years after he bit me. I was scared but calmed down, as a dog cannot live very long. Eight months ago, some stray pups tried to climb onto my leg. Their claws poked me, but I did not receive any scratches. So, the doctor told me that rabies symptoms appear in three to eight weeks, and since it has been eight months, there is no need to worry. He prescribed me pre-exposure prophylaxis for my peace of mind and future protection. He said that if I got bitten in the future, I do not need to have extra doses of post-exposure prophylaxis. Today, I got a day-0 shot of Vaxirab.
My questions are: If there was no history of rabies or rabid dog in our locality, is there any chance of those pups getting infected? Some pups died, but some are still alive. What are my chances of getting rabies? Is it really that rabies symptoms occur in three to eight weeks? Are German shepherds aggressive by nature? Will pre-exposure prophylaxis really protect me? Please answer.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Here are your answers:
1. Even if there is no history in your locality, any dog can get infected with rabies. You need to follow the dog who had bitten you for ten days. If it is alive after ten days, then he was not rabid. If you cannot identify that dog or cannot follow it, then it is better to take post-exposure prophylaxis.
2. The chances of getting rabies are definitely there if the dog is infected and the person does not take the rabies vaccine.
3. In most persons, rabies symptoms appear in three to eight weeks, but in less than 1 percent of patients, the incubation period can be up to 19 years.
4. I do not know about dogs. So, I cannot comment on German shepherds. All I know is they are aggressive but do not bite routinely.
5. Pre-exposure prophylaxis will not protect you 100 percent but significantly protect you for three to five years. It is always better to take post-exposure prophylaxis also if the person gets a significant bite from a rabid dog.. You need to follow the dog who had bitten you for ten days. If it is alive after ten days, then he was not rabid. If you cannot identify that dog or cannot follow it, then it is better to take post-exposure prophylaxis.
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Internal Medicine
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