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Is A Total Course Of Anti-rabies Treatment Required If The Injection Was Missed?

Posted on Thu, 18 May 2023

Question: Hi,
My name is Axxxxx and I was scratched by a dog a week ago. I had taken the first dose of anti-rabies injection (Abhyarab) but unfortunately, I met with an accident in my village and was hospitalised. As the hospital was in a village, there wasn't any anti-rabies injection available. Hence, I wasn't able to continue with my vaccine dosage.
Now, I am back in the city but have missed on two doses of vaccine. I was advised to start taking the anti-rabies injection from the start, i.e. first injection. Is it correct? I am also thinking of starting the vaccination from the beginning as I don't want to take any risks with my life.
Please advise at the earliest.
Thanks,
Axxxxx

Answered by Dr. Dr. U N Sahoo (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:

anti-rabies injection

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

"As" per your clinical history is concerned you should receive 5 doses along with rabies immunoglobulins with the 1st dose to prevent rabies, so as you have discontinued and taken only one so you need a total course to prevent the risk of infection if exposed by rabies only.

Secondly, check that dog that scratched you and watches for 10 days and if it dies within that period then you need vaccinations if not then no need at all. If it is a street dog and not found then you need a full course of vaccinations.

Do follow a few preventive steps for future-

1)Try to vaccinate your pets. Ask your veterinarian how often your pets should be vaccinated.

2)Try to keep your pets confined. Keep your pets inside and supervise them when outside. This will help keep your pets from coming in contact with wild animals.

3)Don't approach wild animals. Wild animals with rabies may seem unafraid of people. It's not normal for a wild animal to be friendly with people, so stay away from any animal that seems unafraid.

4)Discuss with your Doctor about pre exposer vaccination if you are exposing with street dogs, so if accidentally you are exposed then you need only 2 shorts.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr. Uday Nath Sahoo, General & Family Physician

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Dr. U N Sahoo (53 minutes later)

Hi XXXXXXX

Thank you for your reply. It was very helpful. So, I need to start taking anti-rabies injection from scratch. It means that I need to take 5 dosages of anti-rabies injection from the scratch and I shouldn't count the first anti-rabies injection that I took a week ago. It is invalid now. Am I correct?

I am going to start the anti-rabies vaccination from tomorrow. So March 30 will be my 1st vaccination, April 2 as second, April 6 as third, April 13 as fourth and April 27 as my fifth vaccine. I am following 0,3,7,14 and 28 days of vaccination period.

Also I am not able to find rabies immunoglobulins anywhere as it is out of stock. Should I wait for it or start the vaccination from tomorrow?

Please suggest.

Answered by Dr. Dr. U N Sahoo (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:

Rabies injection

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

"As" per your query is concerned you are correct and start it from tomorrow if possible and you can get rabies immunoglobulins from any govt hospital only.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Uday Nath Sahoo, General & Family Physician

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana