Recognize Symptoms And Prevention Of Rabies In Humans And Pets

The photo archive - Animal health workers considered residents' pet cats before being given free rabies and vitamin vaccine injections in Banda Aceh, Aceh, Saturday (11/3/2023).)ANTARA PHOTO/Ampelsa/nym)

JAKARTA - A human-emitting rabies disease, both in children and adults, is able to cause some common symptoms that can be observed, such as sluggish body condition, fever, and sore throat, and pain.

If these symptoms do not receive medical treatment, it can cause sensory disorders in the body such as tingling, heat at the bite site, and neurological disorders such as pupils getting bigger, sweating, and tears pouring out.

"For a long time, symptoms will arise such as hydrophobia, fear of water or air, and light. If you get hit by water or air, it feels like death. If you continue, it will be difficult to breathe," said a member of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association's Infection and Tropical Disease Coordination Unit, Dr. dr. Novie Homenta Rampenan, SpA(K), DTM&H, MCTM (TP), during a virtual media discussion reported by ANTARA, Saturday, June 17.

Novie explained that someone who is indicated to be exposed to the rabies virus will have symptoms of fear of water, air, and light because it causes pain or vomiting so that it is difficult to breathe. No wonder the sufferer of this disease, said Novie, will avoid direct light exposure and contact with water.

He suggested that if someone gets a bite indicated by the rabies virus, immediately wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and then report to the Puskesmas, hospital, or Rabies Center, in order to get more careful medical treatment such as administering vaccines or anti-rabies serums.

"If this is done, it will reduce the number of rabies viruses in a fairly meaningful manner. So, if the number of rabies viruses decreases, automatically the severity of the disease will also decrease," Novie explained.

Meanwhile, the symptoms of rabies in pets, continued Novie, can be observed in physical conditions such as excessive saliva, dry nose, and bent tail between the two back legs. Not only physical conditions, rabies symptoms in dogs can also be seen in behaviors that often avoid, are easily surprised, and non-compliant.

"If there is a provocation, he can immediately attack. Symptoms of rabies also make dogs have photophobia or are afraid of being exposed to sunlight. As a result, he is often alone in the dark," Novie added.

In addition to photophobia, rabies-style dogs also tend not to have a desire to eat and drink because they feel uncomfortable doing these two activities.

"He will behave very wildly and bite dead objects such as wood, stone. In the end, rabies will cause paralysis and death in dogs within 10-14 days," he explained.

However, Novie insists that even though it is deadly, rabies disease can still be prevented.

"Rabies is best prevented before symptoms arise. If someone cares about the animal, immediately do these three ways," said Novie.