Gamble pays off for rabies patient; Teen first to survive without vaccination

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ^ | 11/23/04 | KAWANZA L. GRIFFIN

[Jean S]

This is a miracle.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Glenn]

This is a miracle.

And I am sure the Miracle Worker had a hand in it somewhere.

[Williams]

I am certain a young boy was the first to survive rabies. I think he was in NJ. I know he suffered severe neurologic damage.

[maine-iac7]

a lucky miracle - moral:If your kid gets bit by a freaking bat - get them to a hospitol immediately = most of this might have been avoided...

[billorites]

"Giese reported being bitten by a bat at church Sept. 12 after picking it up by its wings"

Those wacky Unitarians.

[Dallas59]

I was about to say...a wild animal bites you, you go to the doctor.
Kill the damn animal if possible. Hard to believe these people didn't think about rabies...especially with after a BAT bites their kid.

[furball4paws]

I also remember about 8 years ago, the report of a man (I thought) that survived rabies (my memory is very cloudy, but I thought Ohio).

Anyway, the shots are not useful after clinical symptoms appear and maybe this is a possible approach to treatment in cases where the shots cannot be used. Yes, if a wild animal bites you, kill it. Its brain can be tested for the virus and then the shots continued, or discontinued, depending on the results.

In the US we don't worry so much about rabies, since it is rare, but people should be advised that rabies is endemic in many areas of the world and when they travel, this is a thing they should watch out for.

[dit_xi]

"She was never given a rabies vaccine because it is considered ineffective once clinical symptoms develop."

______________________________________________________

She wasn't given the vaccine, but I wondered if she received the immunoglobulin. The vaccine, containing the antigen, helps the body to produce antibodies against the virulent agent. Whereas the immunoglobulin itself contains the antibodies that targets the antigen. I bet she received the rabies immunoglobulin.

[Roccus]

I'd like to be a fly on the wall at her family's Thanksgiving dinner.

[muggs]

i was attacked by my cat yesterday. very severe bite to my hand. went to doctor today. he never asked if it was my cat or a stray, never even mentioned rabies. i was kind of surprised. my hand is very swollen and very, very painful. typing with one finger on pain meds so excuse any typos.

[ladyrustic]

Why did you're own cat attack you?

[Nik Naym]

"In the US we don't worry so much about rabies, since it is rare"

I beg to differ.

Here in upstate and Western NY it is best to assume that ANY coon you see is rabid, as well as any bats. Rabies is rampant among these animals here. It is not unusual to see coons out during the day, acting goofy. Coons are nocturnal. If I am seeing them in the daylight, odds are extremely high they are rabid.

Rabies is NOT rare in the U.S., and to believe this can be very dangerous.

Nik

[Nik Naym]

" Rabies is NOT rare in the U.S., and to believe this can be very dangerous."

Wow, that was a clumsy sentence. Let me try again.

Rabies is not rare in the U.S. and to believe OTHERWISE can be very dangerous.

[muggs]

i don't know. she's never been very nice but this was beyond her normal nasty disposition. she was on my lap, i was petting her. carried her to the kitchen to get something and she went nuts. felt like a vise griping my hand and seemed like it went on forever.

[aposiopetic]

bump

[isom35]

one the best horror movies ever is called "I drink your blood" a kids injects meat pies with rabies-blood from a dead dog, and feeda the meat pies to a Manson-like cult. hijinks ensue! get the dvd!

[eccentric]

I heard that, too. I think I read it in Reader's Digest. The boy was biten by a bat. I don't remember why he wasn't vaccinated. Surely someone else has heard of this case....

[Slings and Arrows]

i don't know. she's never been very nice but this was beyond her normal nasty disposition. she was on my lap, i was petting her. carried her to the kitchen to get something and she went nuts. felt like a vise griping my hand and seemed like it went on forever

Is your cat very old? She could be senile, and unable to recognize you.

Pinging some experts.

---
Kitty Ping List alert!

[Freepmail me to get on or off the Kitty Ping List.]