Rabies

Symptoms:

• bite by animal, bug, self or others
  • dog bite, bat bite, or bite by a skunk, raccoon, or fox (most common animals to transmit)

• low-grade fever (102 F or lower)
• pain at the site of the bite
• swallowing difficulty (drinking produces spasms of the larynx) or swallowing difficulty with liquids only
• restlessness
• excitability
• muscle spasms
• convulsions
• numbness and tingling
• loss of muscle function
• loss of feeling in an area of the body
• drooling
• anxiety, stress, and tension
• positive Babinski's reflex

Signs and tests:

If a person has a history of animal bite, the animal will be observed for signs of rabies. Immunofluorescence (fluorescent antibody test) performed on the suspect animal may show that the animal has rabies.