What exactly is rabies?? What can they do to a human??

Question

I think my friend 'Lucy' might have them!! Help!

Answer 1

it makes you mad and foam at the mouth

a bit like watching Big Brother!!!

Answer 2

There is a difference between being exposed to rabies and actually showing symptoms of having rabies. Not all animals can transmit rabies to humans, so if you don't actually have rabies then you have only been exposed to the rabies. There are anti rabies shots for people who have been exposed and that will prevent the disease. They are very painful, but I'm sure they are worth it. However, if an animal actually transmits the disease to a human, then there is no cure. Most people will die. There have been a couple survivors, but they suffer from severe neurological damage.

Answer 3

Rabies is a neuro virus that is transmitted through the bite or saliva of an infected animal and is always fatal if not treated within the first 24hrs. If your friend is a person and was bitten by an animal she needs to seek medical attention now. If Lucy is your pet and has suspected of having rabies she is a danger to you and others and should be taken to a vet for observation and isolation.

Answer 4

Rabies is a virus that affects many warm blooded animals,it is transfered to humans usually through a bite.
After a bite, when the virus has travelled from the nerve pathways of the muscles into the central nervous system (CNS), it replicates quickly and spreads into many parts of the brain. The brain becomes inflamed and many functions of the CNS are affected.

The virus spreads via the nervous system to many of the tissues of the body, including the skin, mucous membranes and salivary glands. Also known as Hydrophibia.

Answer 5

Rabies is usually present in the saliva of a symptomatic rabid animal; the route of infection is nearly always by a bite, and in many cases in animals, causes the victim to be exceptionally aggressive, attack without provocation, and exhibit otherwise uncharacteristic behavior.

So if lucy is acting up i.e aggressive and producing large quantities of saliva and tears coupled with an inability to speak or swallow then get her a muzzle and take to a hospital!

Answer 6

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that can affect the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) of any kind of mammal, including humans.

Animals that are infected with rabies can spread the disease through their saliva or brain matter. People may be exposed to rabies when bitten by an infected wild or domestic animal. Because of widespread animal vaccination programs, people in North America rarely get rabies; it is more common in developing nations.

Rabies in humans can be difficult to diagnose. Tests that can help include:

Direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test. This common, rapid test detects the rabies virus protein. DFA testing is done by taking a sample of tissue from the potentially affected area.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. This test detects the genetic material (DNA) of the rabies virus proteins. PCR testing is very accurate and can be done on saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, or tissue.
Once rabies symptoms appear, the disease progresses rapidly, and there is no cure. If medical treatment is provided before symptoms develop, the virus almost always is eliminated before it can cause serious damage. Medical treatment for rabies includes:

Thorough cleansing of the area of exposure (bite, scratch, or open sore).
Postexposure vaccinations.
Any animal bite or area of exposure should be washed with soap and water immediately. Visit a health professional to find out whether additional care is needed. Your doctor and local health department can help determine your risk of exposure to rabies. Rabies vaccinations will be administered promptly if the risk of exposure to the virus is high.

Answer 7

Rabies a virus that attacks the nervous system. It can be passed on from animal to humans, hence being bitten by a rabid dog is serious.
Lucy would soon deteriorate with Rabies.
Did you mean scabies ?? a nasty but not fatal fungal infection ?

Answer 8

Cats, dogs, humans, ferrets, raccoons, skunks, foxes, wolves, coyotes, bears, bats, and horses can become rabid. Squirrels, chipmunks, other rodents (except beavers), and rabbits are very seldom infected. Rabies may also be present in a so-called "paralytic" form, rendering the victim abnormally quiet and withdrawn.

The virus is usually present in the saliva of a symptomatic rabid animal; the route of infection is nearly always by a bite, and in many cases in animals, causes the victim to be exceptionally aggressive, attack without provocation, and exhibit otherwise uncharacteristic behavior[1]. Transmission has occurred via an aerosol through mucous membranes; transmission in this form may have happened in people exploring caves populated by rabid bats. Transmission between humans is extremely rare, though it can happen through transplant surgery (see below for recent cases), or even more rarely through bites or kisses.

After a typical human infection by bite, the virus directly or indirectly enters the peripheral nervous system. It then travels along the nerves towards the central nervous system. During this phase, the virus cannot be easily detected within the host, and vaccination may still confer cell-mediated immunity to preempt symptomatic rabies. Once the virus reaches the brain, it rapidly causes encephalitis and symptoms appear. It may also inflame the spinal cord producing myelitis.

The period between infection and the first flu-like symptoms is normally three to twelve weeks, but can be as long as two years. Soon after, the symptoms expand to cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, progressing to delirium. The production of large quantities of saliva and tears coupled with an inability to speak or swallow are typical during the later stages of the disease; this can result in "hydrophobia". Death almost invariably results two to ten days after the first symptoms; the few humans who are known to have survived the disease were all left with severe brain damage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabies

Answer 9

ALL warm blooded animals and that includes humans can get Rabies, it is almost always fatal!!! I believe that only 1 human being has ever survived to tell the tale!

Answer 10

She needs to see her doctor immediately. Rabies affects the neurological system. I am not exactly sure the symptoms in humans, but dogs usually experience intense mood swings, meaning extremely abnormal behavior for that particular animal, hydrophobia, eventually leading to paralysis and death. I don't think that it is always fatal in humans, but in dogs it it. Hope that helps.

Answer 11

Rabies (Latin, rabies, "madness, rage, fury") is a viral zoonotic disease that causes acute encephalitis (brain swelling) in mammals. In non-vaccinated humans, rabies is almost invariably fatal after neurological symptoms have developed, but prompt post-exposure vaccination may prevent the virus from progressing.