Rabies is an acute viral disease that causes fatal encephalomyelitis in virtually all the warm-blooded animals including human. In India, dogs are responsible for about 97% of human rabies, followed by cats (2%), jackals, mongoose and others (1%). The disease is mainly transmitted by the bite of a rabid dog.
A decision to treat in any suspected exposure is crucial to avert the inevitable death from rabies infection. World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for post-exposure treatment divide rabies exposure into three categories: Category I – and least serious – when the victim has been touching or feeding infected animals, but shows no skin lesions; Category II , when the victim has received minor scratches without bleeding or has been licked by an infected animal on broken skin Category III , when the victim has received one or more bites, scratches or licks on broken skin or…
