Girl, 2, dies after getting rabies from dog attack amid fears she bit and scratched 40 people before her tragic death
A GIRL has died of rabies in a dog attack over fears she may have bitten and scratched 40 people before her tragic death.
The two-year-old was reportedly staying at her uncle’s house in the village of Kyolari, India, when she was bitten by the rabid animal.
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Neighbors claimed her family took her to a healer immediately after the attack, but the person reportedly did not give her any medication for the disease because she is not a certified doctor.
The child was taken to the district hospital on July 21, but died three days later.
Doctors said the disease is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
Although unconfirmed, local media reported that the girl may have bitten and clawed around 40 people over a period of two weeks before collapsing.
“When they returned to the village, the child showed symptoms of rabies, which was ignored by her family,” a local claimed.
The head of the community health center, Dinesh Bardariya, assured the villagers that there was no need to panic as there were enough vaccines available.
She said: “Over 40 people from Kyolari village have come for rabies vaccination.
“However, there is no need to panic as we have sufficient rabies vaccines available.”
After rabies infection, the virus must get to the brain before it can cause symptoms, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The time between exposure and the onset of symptoms is incubation period.
It can last weeks to months, depending on the distance to the brain, the type of virus and any immunity you may have.
One of the symptoms commonly attributed to people with this condition is a desire to bite people. However, medical professionals say this is largely a myth. However, the disease manifests either as an “angry” stage, which is the most common, or as a less common paralytic stage.
The first symptoms of rabies can resemble those of the flu, including weakness or malaise, fever, or headache.
There may also be discomfort, tingling, or itching at the bite site. These symptoms can last for days.
Symptoms then progress to cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and restlessness.
As the disease progresses, delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia may occur.
Treatment for possible rabies
Rabies is a rare but serious infection that is usually transmitted through a bite or scratch from an infected animal.
It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but vaccination and early treatment can prevent it, the NHS explained.
If you’ve been bitten, scratched, or licked by an animal that may have rabies, a doctor will assess whether treatment is needed.
Treatment usually includes:
- Two or more doses of the rabies vaccine
- A medicine called rabies immunoglobulin, which is a liquid given into the wound or by injection. This is only necessary if you have not previously been vaccinated against rabies or have a weakened immune system
