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Hi, I Am Currently On Holiday In XXXXXXX Lanka And
Question: Hi,
I am currently on holiday in XXXXXXX Lanka and worried that i might have been exposed to rabies.
yesterday i cut my hand very lightly in the afternoon (2 small cuts that bled for a minute) with some aluminium foil while cooking. Yesterday evening (few hours after the cut) I petted a cat (most likely a stray cat). The cat looked perfectly normal and healthy. Since I know rabies is transmitted through saliva, I am worried that maybe the cat licked its fur before I petted it. Is there any risk of getting rabies like this through an indirect contact (fur with possibly some dried saliva touched the small cuts on my hand)? Has anyone ever gotten rabies that way? I attached two pictures of the small cuts.
The cat did not look like it had just licked itself but i can%E2%80%99t know for sure as I was not next to it the whole time. I also have seen the cat several days before I petted it (and today again) and it looks healthy and is behaving normal.
I am currently on holiday in XXXXXXX Lanka and worried that i might have been exposed to rabies.
yesterday i cut my hand very lightly in the afternoon (2 small cuts that bled for a minute) with some aluminium foil while cooking. Yesterday evening (few hours after the cut) I petted a cat (most likely a stray cat). The cat looked perfectly normal and healthy. Since I know rabies is transmitted through saliva, I am worried that maybe the cat licked its fur before I petted it. Is there any risk of getting rabies like this through an indirect contact (fur with possibly some dried saliva touched the small cuts on my hand)? Has anyone ever gotten rabies that way? I attached two pictures of the small cuts.
The cat did not look like it had just licked itself but i can%E2%80%99t know for sure as I was not next to it the whole time. I also have seen the cat several days before I petted it (and today again) and it looks healthy and is behaving normal.
Brief Answer:
RABIES PROPHYLAXIS
Detailed Answer:
Hi....
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
I am Dr Ajeet XXXXXXX
I have gone through your query (and the sent images) and here is my opinion.
Yes....It is quite possible to get Rabies in this way.
Rabies virus is secreted in all secretions of a rabid animal (including saliva) and if there is any breach in skin,it can get a direct access into the body circulation.
I hope that you washed well, the cut mark with soap and running water after the exposure.
If the cat seems fine and can be monitored for next 10 days or had been vaccinated (if it is a stray cat,there is no such possibility),there is no need of your vaccination.
Just let the cat be observed closely for appearance of any rabid symptoms.
If the cat is unknown,can not be monitored,it's rabies status is not known or the cat disappears in next 10 days,in that case you need a vaccination.
If you are unsure about anything,as per Internationally accepted policy and protocols,you should get the vaccines because rabies is 100 percent fatal and it's usually too late till the symptoms appear.
It is always better to err on the safer side.
Post exposure prophylaxis should be given as early as possible.
Injection is given intramuscular in deltoid muscle of arm.
In case,you have been vaccinated previously,you will still need two booster doses of rabies vaccine.
The first dose as soon as possible(Day zero) and the second dose three days later(Day 3).
Hope that I have answered your query.
Satay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards.
RABIES PROPHYLAXIS
Detailed Answer:
Hi....
Welcome to "Ask a Doctor" service.
I am Dr Ajeet XXXXXXX
I have gone through your query (and the sent images) and here is my opinion.
Yes....It is quite possible to get Rabies in this way.
Rabies virus is secreted in all secretions of a rabid animal (including saliva) and if there is any breach in skin,it can get a direct access into the body circulation.
I hope that you washed well, the cut mark with soap and running water after the exposure.
If the cat seems fine and can be monitored for next 10 days or had been vaccinated (if it is a stray cat,there is no such possibility),there is no need of your vaccination.
Just let the cat be observed closely for appearance of any rabid symptoms.
If the cat is unknown,can not be monitored,it's rabies status is not known or the cat disappears in next 10 days,in that case you need a vaccination.
If you are unsure about anything,as per Internationally accepted policy and protocols,you should get the vaccines because rabies is 100 percent fatal and it's usually too late till the symptoms appear.
It is always better to err on the safer side.
Post exposure prophylaxis should be given as early as possible.
Injection is given intramuscular in deltoid muscle of arm.
In case,you have been vaccinated previously,you will still need two booster doses of rabies vaccine.
The first dose as soon as possible(Day zero) and the second dose three days later(Day 3).
Hope that I have answered your query.
Satay healthy and stay blessed.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Hi,
thanks for your reply. following your recommendation I went to the local hospital and they said a vaccination is not needed in that case, as they said it is only transmitted through bit scratch or lick. Now I am confused what to do. Have there been occurrences of people getting rabies in a similar situation?
The cat is probably not vaccinated but coming several times per day to the hotel, I am leaving tomorrow but can ask them to observe it in the next 10 days.
One thing I don%E2%80%99t understand though is whether it is OK to wait 10 days to observe the cat, or if it is dangerous and I should insist on getting the vaccination as soon as possible? I am really confused on what to do best in that situation. I petted the cat approximately 20hrs ago. How urgent is it?
thank you in advance,
thanks for your reply. following your recommendation I went to the local hospital and they said a vaccination is not needed in that case, as they said it is only transmitted through bit scratch or lick. Now I am confused what to do. Have there been occurrences of people getting rabies in a similar situation?
The cat is probably not vaccinated but coming several times per day to the hotel, I am leaving tomorrow but can ask them to observe it in the next 10 days.
One thing I don%E2%80%99t understand though is whether it is OK to wait 10 days to observe the cat, or if it is dangerous and I should insist on getting the vaccination as soon as possible? I am really confused on what to do best in that situation. I petted the cat approximately 20hrs ago. How urgent is it?
thank you in advance,
Brief Answer:
RABIES PROPHYLAXIS
Detailed Answer:
Hi...
As I told you that there have been such cases reported in the past.
In my opinion either you should get vaccinated (that too without further delay) or ensure that the cat is watched later and you are kept informed(if at all it is possible).
Regards.
RABIES PROPHYLAXIS
Detailed Answer:
Hi...
As I told you that there have been such cases reported in the past.
In my opinion either you should get vaccinated (that too without further delay) or ensure that the cat is watched later and you are kept informed(if at all it is possible).
Regards.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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