When people get bitten by an animal in Illinois, they may worry about getting rabies. If an animal is rabid, people usually cannot tell if they have the virus or not. Because of this, it is important to take action.
Some people may think that any animal that bites a person has rabies. According to The Humane Society of the United States, there are several ways to tell if an animal has rabies. Animals infected with the virus might drool or bite at themselves. They may also snap and seem wobbly as they walk. Sometimes, though, people may not be able to tell if an animal has rabies. Because of this, it is a good idea for people to seek medical treatment after any animal bite.
When people go to their doctor, they may expect their doctor to perform a test to determine if they have rabies. The Mayo Clinic says doctors usually cannot tell if a person has rabies before the infection sets in. Because of this, a physician may simply recommend starting treatment. Most of the time, doctors may give patients several rabies shots over a two week period.
Sometimes people may think that they do not need a rabies vaccination if it does not look like an animal has rabies. However, it is usually best to seek treatment anyway. This is because it is difficult to cure rabies once the infection sets in. Rabies can often be fatal if people do not get treatment or seek it too late. Getting the vaccinations early can help ensure that the disease does not develop.