Rabies

Laura B. Bishop, MD and Brigette M. Schuman, M.D. Reviewed 04/2024

BASICS

DESCRIPTION

A rapidly progressive central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by a ribonucleic acid (RNA) rhabdovirus affecting humans and mammals
May present with symptoms of encephalitis or p...

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis can be made antemortem through isolation of the virus or antibodies in the serum, saliva, CSF, or nuchal biopsy and postmortem by brain biopsy.

HISTORY

History of animal exposure; h...

TREATMENT

After symptoms have developed, treatment is palliative (analgesia and sedation). Postexposure prophylaxis is used for patients following exposure to rabies, but before the onset of symptoms....

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

If untreated, rabies has the highest case fatality rate of any infectious disease; generally considered to be 100% fatal once symptoms develop.
To date, fewer than 20 cases of sur...

REFERENCES

Fooks A, Cliquet F, Finke S, et al. Rabies. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17091. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2017.91.

Rao AK, Briggs D, Moore SM, et al. Use of a Modified Preexposure Prophylaxis Vac...

ADDITIONAL READING

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rabies. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies.
Moore SM. Challenges of Rabies Serology: Defining Context of Interpreta...

CODES

ICD10

A82.9 Rabies, unspecified
Z20.3 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to rabies

SNOMED

14168008 Rabies (disorder)

CLINICAL PEARLS

Caused by RNA virus and transmitted by infected animal saliva
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable virus.
Seek immediate treatment if exposed to scratch, bite, or saliva of potentially infect...

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