Search results
Learn the meaning of rabid as an adjective for violent, extreme, or rabid, and see synonyms, examples, and word history. Find out how to use rabid in a sentence and how to cite it.
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the nervous system and is transmitted by animal bites or scratches. Learn about the signs, causes, prevention and treatment of rabies, as well as its global distribution and history.
- On this page
- Symptoms
- When to see a doctor
- From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
- Causes
- Risk factors
- Prevention
- More Information
- Products & Services
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
•Overview
•Symptoms
•When to see a doctor
•Causes
•Risk factors
•Prevention
The first symptoms of rabies may be very similar to those of the flu and may last for days.
Later signs and symptoms may include:
•Fever
•Headache
•Nausea
•Vomiting
Seek immediate medical care if you're bitten by any animal, or exposed to an animal suspected of having rabies. Based on your injuries and the situation in which the exposure happened, you and your doctor can decide whether you should receive treatment to prevent rabies.
Even if you aren't sure whether you've been bitten, seek medical attention. For instance, a bat that flies into your room while you're sleeping may bite you without waking you. If you awake to find a bat in your room, assume you've been bitten. Also, if you find a bat near a person who can't report a bite, such as a small child or a person with a disability, assume that person has been bitten.
Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
The rabies virus causes a rabies infection. The virus spreads through the saliva of infected animals. Infected animals can spread the virus by biting another animal or a person.
In rare cases, rabies can be spread when infected saliva gets into an open wound or the mucous membranes, such as the mouth or eyes. This could happen if an infected animal licked an open cut on your skin.
Factors that can increase your risk of rabies include:
•Traveling or living in developing countries where rabies is more common
•Activities that are likely to put you in contact with wild animals that may have rabies, such as exploring caves where bats live or camping without taking precautions to keep wild animals away from your campsite
•Working as a veterinarian
•Working in a laboratory with the rabies virus
•Wounds to the head or neck, which may help the rabies virus travel to your brain more quickly
To reduce your risk of coming in contact with rabid animals:
•Vaccinate your pets. Cats, dogs and ferrets can be vaccinated against rabies. Ask your veterinarian how often your pets should be vaccinated.
•Keep your pets confined. Keep your pets inside and supervise them when outside. This will help keep your pets from coming in contact with wild animals.
•Protect small pets from predators. Keep rabbits and other small pets, such as guinea pigs, inside or in protected cages so that they are safe from wild animals. These small pets can't be vaccinated against rabies.
•Report stray animals to local authorities. Call your local animal control officials or other local law enforcement to report stray dogs and cats.
•Don't approach wild animals. Wild animals with rabies may seem unafraid of people. It's not normal for a wild animal to be friendly with people, so stay away from any animal that seems unafraid.
•Mayo Clinic Minute: What you should know about bats and rabies
•A Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition
•Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition
Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals, usually through a bite. Learn about the signs and symptoms of rabies, how to prevent it, and when to seek medical care.
Feb 5, 2024 · Learn about rabies, a deadly virus that attacks the central nervous system and can be spread by animal bites or scratches. Find out how to prevent and treat rabies, and what are the signs and stages of infection.
Learn the definition of rabid as an adjective for having rabies or extreme feelings, and see how to say it in different languages. Find related words, phrases, and synonyms for rabid in various topics.
Nov 2, 2021 · Learn how to prevent and treat rabies, a deadly virus transmitted by animal bites. Find out when and how to get rabies shots, and how to determine whether the animal that bit you has rabies.
Rabid means irrationally extreme, furious, or mad, or relating to rabies. Learn the origin, usage, and synonyms of rabid, and see how it is used in sentences from various sources.
