The full course of rabies usually lasts no more than 6 days, with most deaths occurring once the disease develops. The typical course of the disease includes the prodromal stage, the excitation stage and the paralytic stage.
1. Prodromal stage: manifested as nausea, headache, followed by irritability and insomnia, sensitivity to sound, light and other stimuli and a feeling of throat tightness. It usually lasts for 2~4 days.
2. Excitation period: clinical manifestations of high excitement, fear and anxiety. Hoarseness and slurred speech may occur. Severe patients may have paroxysmal convulsions of the whole body muscles, dyspnea, cyanosis and other symptoms. This period is about 1~3 days.
3. Paralytic stage: the patient’s convulsions stop and turn into flaccid paralysis. Eventually die of circulatory and respiratory failure. Generally 6~18 hours.
If scratched or bitten, you should be admitted to the hospital in time and treated under the doctor’s guidance.