Rabies is an infectious disease caused by a virus, which does great harm to both humans and animals. This article will introduce the basic knowledge of rabies, including its etiology, transmission route, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

1. Etiology

Rabies virus is a single stranded RNA virus belonging to the rhabdoviridae family. It is a virus that cannot replicate itself and must do so with the help of a host cell. The host range of rabies virus is very wide, including mammals, birds, reptiles and so on.

2. Transmission Route

It is mainly transmitted through saliva. During the disease, the saliva of its carriers will contain a large number of viruses, which can be transmitted to humans and other creatures through biting, licking and so on. In addition, the virus can also be transmitted through the feces and secretions of animals carrying the virus.

3. Symptoms

After rabies virus infection, there are usually some non-specific symptoms, such as fever, headache, fatigue, nausea and so on. As the disease progresses, patients will have typical neurological symptoms, such as fear of water, fear of wind, convulsions, paralysis, and so on. The mortality rate for people with rabies is almost 100%, so early detection and treatment is very important.

4. Diagnosis

The diagnosis of this infection usually requires laboratory testing. Common detection methods include virus isolation and culture. If the patient is found to have symptoms of rabies virus infection, he should seek medical help immediately and be isolated for treatment.

5. Prevention and Treatment

The key to prevention is vaccination and avoiding contact with suspicious animals. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, seek medical help right now and treat it as recommended by your doctor. The disease is treated by vaccination and immunoglobulin injection. Vaccination excites the body to produce antibodies, while immunoglobulins provide instant immune protection. If the treatment is timely, it can effectually reduce the death rate.