After being bitten by a dog many times but not vaccinated, Mr. D.H.B (62 years old, driver, residing in Bac Ninh) had symptoms that had entered the treatment phase - a stage where treatment was no longer possible.
On July 16, information from the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases said that Mr. B had been bitten by a dog many times. Most recently, nearly 3 months ago, he was bitten by a neighbor's dog in the outer face of his right leg. However, he did not go to a medical facility for treatment or vaccination. The dog was then monitored for about ten days and then showed signs of aggression and was sold by the owner.
About 3 days before being hospitalized, Mr. B had symptoms such as panic, agitation, poor appetite, feeling choked, afraid of water and wind - typical signs of rabies. At a lower-level hospital, he was diagnosed with suspected rabies and immediately transferred to a higher level.
Master, Doctor Tran Van Bac - Deputy Head of the Emergency Department, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases - said: "When admitted, the patient had typical symptoms of aggressive rabies such as increased phlegm secretion, red eyes, ears, agitation, panic. This is an extremely dangerous stage of hypertensive - with a poor prognosis and almost no treatment.
The patient is currently being closely monitored and waiting for the test results to confirm. However, based on clinical symptoms and a history of suspected rabies bites, doctors diagnosed him as having rabies.
Doctor Nguyen Nguyen Huyen - Director of the Center for Disease Control and Vaccination - warned: "rabies is acute myasthenia gravis caused by the rabies virus. The virus exists in the saliva of sick animals and spreads to humans through bites, scratches, or through mucous membranes and scratched skin. Once there is an outbreak, nearly 100% of cases have died".
For people bitten by dogs and cats, Dr. Huyen recommends:
Wash the wound immediately under running water with soap for at least 15 minutes.
Do not apply leaves or use folk remedies.
Go to a medical facility to get vaccinated and have anti-rabies serum as soon as possible.
Do not wait to monitor your pet if you are not sure you can control it.
Dr. Huyen also emphasized: Many people are still afraid of doccious rabies vaccine or having side effects, but that is a misunderstanding. Current vaccines have all been tested safe and do not contain live viruses that cause the disease. hesitation only causes patients to lose their only chance of survival".
