Kids and Rabies
Children are naturally drawn to animals. They like playing with, petting and feeding them. Parents must be careful of the animals their kids interact with. Keep them safe from those that may possibly have rabies. Rabies is a disease we commonly associate with dog bites. it is true that dogs are the main carriers of the rabies virus, though any mammal such as cats, bats and cattle can get infected too. Rabies is a disease caused by a virus found in the saliva of infected animals and is transmitted to pets and humans by bites or licks on broken skin. Rabies is the tenth most common fatal infectious disease worldwide. Each year, rabies kills more than 50,000 people around the world. It remains a big health. More often children under the age of 15 are the victims. That is why it is important to have your pets vaccinated against rabies.
Protect your pets from stray or wild animals because any pet which comes in contact with stray or wild animals is at risk. Suspect animals to be infected with rabies if they act differently from healthy animals. A pet that is usually friendly may snap at you or may try to bite. Some signs of rabies in animals are: changes in an animal’s behavior, general sickness, problem with swallowing, increased drooling and aggression.
Vaccinate your child against rabies. Pre-exposure vaccination against rabies is available for you and your loved ones. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is an anti-rabies vaccine given even before a bite has occurred. You can protect your family from this disease by getting three doses of anti-rabies vaccine, following a recommended schedule.
It must be clear, however, that receipt of PEP vaccination does not replace the need for getting immunization after exposure to rabies. One of the numerous advantages of receiving PEP is that it simplifies post-exposure management by decreasing the number of vaccine doses needed after repeated exposure. Additionally, PEP eliminates the need for Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) as RIG may not be easily available to the ones who need it the most.
Remember that there is no effective treatment for rabies once clinical symptoms have developed. Pre-exposure vaccination against rabies is the best defense.