Rabies
Background
Indication for Prophylaxis
- Bite or salivary exposure from bat, or mammalian carnivore
- Inhalation counts (e.g. dead bat in room)
- Not needed if non-salivary exposure, or if bird, reptile, or rodent (rare cases)
Clinical Features
Differential Diagnosis
Jaw Spasms
- Acute tetanus
- Akathisia
- Conversion disorder
- Drug toxicity (anticholinergic, phenytoin, valproate, carbamazepine)
- Dystonic reaction
- Electrolyte abnormality
- Hypocalcemic tetany
- Magnesium
- Mandible dislocation
- Meningitis
- Peritonsillar abscess
- Rabies
- Seizure
- Strychnine poisoning
- Stroke
- Temporomandibular disorder
- Torticollis
Diagnosis
Algorithm for Prophylaxis
Animal was captured
Is animal dog or cat?
- Yes: Observe 10 days, if abnormal, sacrifice and treat patient with the vacc and RIG. Then patient treatment can be discontinued if the animal pathology is negative for rabies
- No: Sacrifice animal and begin RIG and vaccine. Discontinue if animal negative path for rabies
Animal was not captured
Is Animal dog or cat?
- Yes: Give vacc and RIG only if rabies risk for species in area
- No: Treat with full course vacc and RIG
Management
Immunocompetent + NOT Vaccinated
- Clean wound
- Rabies vaccine (human diploid cell vaccine)
- 1mL IM on days: 0, 3, 7, 14[1]
- Give in deltoid (not buttock), since Ab not created in fat cells
- AND, Rabies immune globulin
- 20 IU/kg subcutaneous
- Infiltrate around wound if possible
- place remainder opposite arm of vaccine
- can administer up to 7 days after the first vaccine dose
Immunocompetent + Vaccinated
- Clean wound
- Rabies vaccine (human diploid cell vaccine)
- 1mL IM on days: 0 and 3
- Give in deltoid (not buttock), since Ab not created in fat cells
- NO rabies immune globulin
Immuno-compromised
- Clean wound
- Rabies vaccine (human diploid cell vaccine)
- 1mL IM on days: 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28[1]
- Give in deltoid (not buttock), since Ab not created in fat cells
- AND, Rabies immune globulin
- 20 IU/kg subcutaneous
- Infiltrate around wound if possible
- place remainder opposite arm of vaccine
- can administer up to 7 days after the first vaccine dose
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Use of a Reduced (4-Dose) Vaccine Schedule for Postexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Human Rabies. http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/resources/acip_recommendations.html