Why is rabies afraid of water?

Rabies, also known as hydrophobia, is a symptom that occurs in patients after being infected with rabies. It is an irreversible encephalomyelitis that will cause fear of wind, water, excessive excitement, throat spasm, and paralysis. As the disease progresses, toxins invade organs and cause organ failure, leading to death. Rabies is currently the most contagious disease and requires special attention in normal times.

Why is rabies afraid of water?

Rabies is the acute infectious disease with the highest mortality rate in humans to date. Once it occurs, the mortality rate is as high as 100%. Rabies occurs in 87 countries and regions around the world, but is mainly distributed in developing countries such as Asia, Africa and Latin America. 98% of the cases are in Asia. The number of cases in China ranks second in the world after India. Since 1997, the incidence of rabies in some provinces of my country has been increasing year by year, especially in the past three years, the epidemic situation in some areas has increased significantly, and the number of cases and deaths has continued to increase.

Wild animals are the main hosts of rabies virus. Dogs with rabies are the main source of rabies infection to humans, followed by cats. Wild animals such as wolves and foxes can also spread the disease. Animals such as dogs that appear healthy but carry the virus can also act as sources of infection and infect humans. The patient's saliva contains a small amount of virus, but it rarely infects others directly.

Human rabies is basically caused by being bitten by a rabid animal whose saliva contains the virus. The virus cannot pass through intact skin, so scratches or abrasions, or even a lick from a rabid animal, can be dangerous. Animals such as dogs whose saliva contains the virus can also cause infection by licking human mucous membranes, oral cavity, anus, and external genital mucosa and skin with their tongues. Experimental animals can be infected by ingesting food containing the virus or by passing the virus through the anus. Rabies virus can also be transmitted through aerosols. Therefore, medical staff, close contacts, and laboratory staff should undergo respiratory isolation when they come into contact with rabies patients or conduct rabies virus-related experiments.

People of different genders, ages and occupations are generally susceptible to rabies. Due to different opportunities of contact with animals, the disease is more common among young and middle-aged male farmers. Judging from the cases of rabies in my country in recent years: males account for about 65%-70%; the number of cases varies in different age groups, children aged 0-7 years old account for about 17%, adolescents aged 8-19 years old account for about 23%, and the age group of 20-60 years old accounts for about 50%. From this it is not difficult to see that rabies is very harmful to children and adolescents. Certain professions such as veterinarians, field workers, laboratory personnel, and people living in tropical areas are at increased risk of contracting rabies.

After a person is bitten by a poisonous dog or other animal, the incubation period varies depending on the location of the bite and the depth and size of the wound. If the bite is above the neck and the wound is severe, the incubation period can be as short as a few days. If the bite is on the distal part of the limbs and the wound is light, the incubation period can be longer, up to several years or even more than ten years. There are two main clinical types of human rabies: one is the manic type, which often presents symptoms of excitement, especially hydrophobia. 80% of rabies belong to this type; the other is the paralytic or dumb rabies, which has no obvious symptoms of excitement and generally does not present hydrophobia. Less than 20% of patients belong to this type.