Rabies
Overview
Rabies is a rare but serious infection that's usually caught from a bite or scratch of an infected animal. It's almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but vaccination and early treatment can prevent it.
Symptoms
Symptoms of rabies usually take 3 to 12 weeks to appear, but they can appear after a few days or not for several months or years. Symptoms include: numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratchedseeing things that are not there (hallucinations)feeling very anxious or energeticdifficulty swallowing or breathingbeing unable to move (paralysis) Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal.
Treatment
If you've been bitten, scratched or licked by an animal that may have rabies, a doctor will check if you need treatment. Treatment usually involves: 2 or more doses of the rabies vaccinea medicine called rabies immunoglobulin, a liquid given into the wound or by injection (this is only needed if you've not had the rabies vaccine before or have a weakened immune system) If treated quickly, treatment is usually very effective at preventing rabies. Rabies cannot be treated if symptoms appear. If you had treatment while abroad, contact your GP when you get back to the UK. They can check if you need any more treatment.