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Do I Need Rabies Vaccination Again For Scratches On My Leg?

Posted on Tue, 1 Apr 2014

Question: Dear doc i got vaccinated for rabies on 26 XXXXXXX 2014 . on 05 mar 14 this month while i was driving my bike a cat hit my leg in the night. In the morning when i checked my leg there were few scatches..do i need to get vaccinated again ..secondly how long it takes for vaccine to develop antibodies..thirdly if i again take 02 doses of vaccine will it be overdose or harmful

Answered by Dr. Praveen G (42 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Yes, you need to take antirabies vaccine. Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to Healthcare Magic, I have gone through your history and understand your concern, As you have taken full course of anti rabies vaccine previously following the animal bite and now you had cat starches on your leg, according to WHO guidelines you will be identified as Re- Exposures. 1. Yes, you need to take 2 doses of anti rabies vaccines on days 0 and 3 following your exposure i.e 5th and 8th of March 2014. 2. In Re-Exposures, first dose will induce antibody titres but protective antibody titres will be attained only after second dose i.e by day 5. 3.No, as rabies is 100 % fatal, under treatment is problem rather than over treatment. This is the disease where we don't want to take risk. Hope you got the information for your query, if you have any further query feel free to post them. Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Praveen G (1 hour later)

But tsking vaccine twice within two months is not harmful?

Answered by Dr. Praveen G (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer: No harm in taking antirabies vaccine. Detailed Answer: Hello, No,these antirabies vaccine will induce rabies virus neutralizing antibody titres (RVnAb) in your body to fight against the rabies virus. There is no harm in taking antirabies vaccine twice within two months. If you have any further query please post me. Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Praveen G (14 hours later)

Dear doc thanks a ton for ur advice..i also want to know the cloths on which the animal touched how long the virus will be alive on that cloth or rather how long the virus remsins active outside the host body and can it spread from cloth to another person

Answered by Dr. Praveen G (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Rabies virus is very sensitive to air Detailed Answer: Hello,. It is my pleasure to answer your query, Rabirs virus can survive hardly for 10 to 15 mins in the external environment. It is very sensitive to water and detergent, by mere washing most of the rabies virus will be killed. It is not transmitted by sharing the cloth, because the virus requires open wound or mucosa to gain entry into the body. If you have any further query, please feel free to ask me. Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Praveen G (2 days later)

Dear doc thanks for your advice ..i took first shot on 09 mar and next is due tommorow..doc i want to know between 1st vaccination shot on 09 and next due on 12 if a dog bites do i have to take vaccination afresh

Answered by Dr. Praveen G (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer: No Detailed Answer: Hello, It is my proud privilege to answer your query, As you have taken the first dose of antirabies vaccine on 9th of this month and as you are a Re-Exposure individual, the 1st dose of antirabies vaccine as already stimulated the memory cells (which was responsible to produce the antibodies in the previous exposure) to induce rabies virus neutralizing antibodies(RvNab). So there is no need to restart the schedule but you should take 2nd dose on 12th of march. If you have any further query feel free to post them and i will be very much happy to answer your query. Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E

Follow up: Dr. Praveen G (39 hours later)

Dear doc i have taken 2nd dose yesterday ... I am anxious to know following :- the rabies virus is immediately killed and flushed from the body by the antibodies produced by vaccine or antibodies make this virus inert to act against body..secondly can repeated use of this vaccine over a period of time make my immune sytem weak ...thirdly even though i have washed my cloths and shoes in hot water and dried them in sun light, can the virus still remain active on them ...i also want to know how long my present vaccination will protect me

Answered by Dr. Praveen G (3 hours later)

Brief Answer: It will protect you for 5 years Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to Healthcare Magic, It is my pleasure to answer your query, 1. Antirabies vaccine will stimulate the immune system to induce the protective antibody titres, which will neutralize (Kill) the virus totally and remove from the body. 2.No, Antirabies vaccine (ARV) stimulate the memory cell to induce the antibody titres and this memory cell for particular antigen (ARV) will be there through out the life. If you repeat the ARV it will stimulate the same memory cells, so repeated use of ARV will not hampers your immune system. 3.No, the rabies virus very sensitive to water, detergents and drying. The rabies virus cannot survive after these measures. 4.The present vaccination can give protection for five years. If you are exposed to animal bite after 5 years, you need to take all 5 doses of antirabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulins (RIGs). Hope all your questions are answered, still if you have any questions I will be very happy to answer them. Thank you.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E