What is the truth about rabies shots for humans?

Question

When I was growing up there was a "myth" about 14 shots in the stomach if you got rabies.... I heard today on the news a boy had to get a series of shots every week and they were very painful. Does anyone know exactly what they do if you are suspected of being bit by an animal with rabies. What kind of shot is it; why is it so terribly painful; and how many shots do you need?

Answer 1

Actually, it's no myth - it is a series of shots (not as many, these days), given over the course of a month, and injected into the muscles. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/rabies/article_em.htm has more detailed information.

Answer 2

Rabie Shots For Humans

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the truth about rabies shots for humans?
When I was growing up there was a "myth" about 14 shots in the stomach if you got rabies.... I heard today on the news a boy had to get a series of shots every week and they were very painful. Does anyone know exactly what they do if you are suspected of being bit by an animal with...

Answer 4

After possible exposure to the rabies virus, the doctor will give you five shots with one of these vaccines into your upper arm muscle over a four-week period. The vaccines can cause mild reactions such as swelling or redness at the vaccine site, headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches, and dizziness.

Answer 5

Years ago, we did not have the technology we have today. So yes a patient who had been bitten by a rabid animal had to have a series of 10 shots. And they were administered directly into the stomach. Now the patient its still given shots. But hey can be given in the muscle, butt, arm. And yes from what I have seen they are painful.

Answer 6

If you have access to the animal they can check it for rabies. They check its brain though so the animal has to be destroyed to do the test.