Rabies Symptoms

Quick Glance: Common Rabies Symptoms 

Initial presentation of symptoms in rabies may include non-specific symptoms, followed by neurologic signs as the condition worsens. These symptoms need to be assessed by medical professionals, especially after possible contact with a rabid animal. 

The common symptoms of rabies are:

• Fever, headaches, and general weakness

• Pain, tingling, or prickling at the bite or scratch site

• Anxiety, restlessness, and agitation

• Confusion or abnormal behavioural changes

• Difficulties in swallowing

• Hydrophobia, or a fear of water

• Hallucinations or excessive salivation

• Weakness or paralysis of muscles

Rabies Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored

Some critical rabies symptoms that should not be ignored are given in the table below:

Why Do Rabies Symptoms Occur?

Symptoms of rabies begin to develop as the virus travels from the site of exposure towards the central nervous system. Once the virus has entered the body, it can use the peripheral nerves to travel toward the brain. This is why pain, tingling, or abnormal sensations may occur in the initial bite or scratch wound.

Once the rabies virus enters the central nervous system, it causes progressive inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, resulting in encephalitis and spinal cord inflammation. This neurological involvement accounts for the various symptoms experienced by rabies victims.

Once the brain is affected, an individual experiences symptoms like anxiety, agitation, confusion, hallucinations, behavioural changes, and seizures. The infection is capable of affecting the nerves and muscles involved in swallowing. This can result in difficulty in swallowing and cause hydrophobia, in which even attempting to drink water, or just seeing or thinking about water, can induce painful muscle spasms.

In addition, rabies may affect the autonomic nervous system, which regulates activities such as breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure, and sweating. In some patients, rabies causes weakness and paralysis without significant agitation or hydrophobia.

Rabies Symptoms That Require Immediate Medical Attention

Symptoms of rabies may occur rapidly once the disease affects the central nervous system. It is recommended to visit a doctor in case of one or several of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty swallowing or swallowing pain

• Hydrophobia, or the fear/panic reaction induced by an attempt to drink water

• Sudden confusion or extreme agitation

• Delusions or delirium

• Convulsions

• Progressive weakness or paralysis of muscles

• Difficult breathing

• Unconsciousness

Symptoms of Rabies Based on Type

The table below explains various types of rabies and their respective symptoms.

Can You Have Rabies Without Symptoms?

Rabies infection can occur in a patient even during the incubation period without any symptoms. The incubation period normally lasts 2 to 3 months, although it can range from 7 days to 1 year, as it is affected by several factors, such as the site of exposure and how much of the virus was involved.

Nonetheless, the absence of symptoms after exposure to the rabies infection does not necessarily indicate that there is no infection. In fact, there are no WHO-recognised methods that can confirm the presence of rabies infection before it manifests.

When Can Rabies Become Life-Threatening?

When signs of the disease are evident, rabies can develop rapidly and can always be nearly fatal. Some life-threatening complications of rabies include:

How are Rabies Symptoms Diagnosed?

Rabies cannot be reliably diagnosed from symptoms alone, particularly in the early stages. The symptoms of the patient are reviewed alongside their history of potential exposure to an animal, along with laboratory investigations. An overview of these tests and their purpose to diagnose rabies is given below: