Recently Answered Questions
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A dog's teeth touched my finger. Should I get a vaccine?
Query: Hi doctor, I used to put biscuits for a stray dog in my office. Today, when I saw it, it came to me and started playing with me. Accidentally, one of the teeth touched my finger, but there was no injury or bleeding. Kindly advice if I should take a vaccine. Also, two months before I had Rabipur inje... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and can understand your concern. If you have already taken the full course of the vaccine, then no need to take a dose now. Since there is no injury or blood, thorough cleaning might be enough. Thank you and take care. Regards. Read Full »
Is rabies vaccine needed if my fingers contacted a dog's teeth?
Query: Hi doctor, My query is regarding the necessity of rabies treatment for me. Last week, I accidentally disturbed a sleeping dog. It started barking and tried to bite my right hand. I pulled my hand; hence it could not harm me. But, I remember that during this incident its teeth and tongue strongly tou... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Is the dog alright? You have to keep watching the dog whether the dog die or not. Since, there is no blood and you said it happened last week; you do not need any vaccine now. I hope this helps. Thank you and take care. Regards. Read Full »
I have a headache and fever post-cat scratch. Please help.
Query: Hi doctor, I received three doses of rabies vaccine one year ago and another two doses of booster vaccine three months after the main vaccine. Two weeks ago, a cat scratched my thumb, but there was no blood in the cut, which was only the size of a dot. Three weeks later, I have started a mild fever ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query, There is no need to worry, If you have taken rabies vaccine. Also your symptoms are of viral flu only. Rabies symptoms includes fear of water, altered sensorium and, angry behavior along with fever. Please follow up for further assistances. ... Read Full »
A healthy dog scratched my leg. Do I have to worry about rabies?
Query: Hello doctor, Yesterday, my dog who is around two months accidentally scratched my leg. The scratch is negligible but I lost half a drop of blood. The dog looks healthy and has not been bitten by other dogs. He has not been given antirabies injection because my vet told us he is too young to get one... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. If a dog scratches or bites you, you need to have a vaccine. As you have a history of exposure (bites or scratches), then it is better to get the vaccine for post-exposure treatment. Post-exposure treatment consists of five injections by intramuscular route on day 0, t... Read Full »
Can rabies virus survive outside host if exposed to sunlight?
Query: Hello doctor, Can rabies virus survive outside host on grass or leaves if it is exposed to sunlight? Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Usually, UV rays of the sun are known to kill the virus. So usually they do not survive outside the body when exposed to the sunlight. Read Full »
Is it possible that I was exposed to rabies three months ago?
Query: Hello doctor, Three months ago, I accidentally stepped on a large bandicoot rat near a drainage area. Although I was wearing slippers at the time, I am unsure if the creature bit or scratched me. Upon returning home, I thoroughly examined myself but found no signs of bite or scratch marks. I clean... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand your concern. Given that there were no apparent bite or scratch marks, it is highly unlikely that there was any infection, including rabies or other pathogens. Your decision to wash the affected area with soap afterward was a prudent and sensible a... Read Full »
Can a dog scratch cause rabies?
Query: Hello doctor, My dog scratched me with its claws. So, what should I do? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. If your pet dog is vaccinated and if the attack was provoked and if there was no bleeding then you just need to observe the dog for ten days, and chances of contracting rabies are very little or nil. However, if there was any bleeding, the attack was unprovoked and i... Read Full »
Can rabies spread through standing bare-foot on rat's blood?
Query: Hello doctor, I stood on a rat's blood that my assistant killed about half an hour after the incident. It was hit on the head so I presume there was some saliva in the blood, I was obviously bare-footed and have no open sores on my feet but do have cracked heels. Is there any way I could have contra... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand that you are worried but the chances of you contracting rabies from a pool of blood while may or may not have saliva of a bat which might or might not have been rabid are quite slim. However, if your heels are cracked enough to have caused an opening in the... Read Full »
Can I take anti-rabies vaccine without a dog bite?
Query: Hello doctor, I am 38 years old. Two days back, I was playing with my neighbor's dog (small one), my middle finger got scratch or bitten. I am not sure, but there were very few drops of blood. So, should I take the anti-rabies vaccine? Is it completely safe to take it even without a dog bite? Any s... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The anti-rabies vaccine should be taken if there is a dog bite or dog licks the mucous membrane like nose, eyes or mouth or wounded skin or a dog scratch. Wash the wound completely under running tap water with soap for 15 minutes. Watch and observe the dog for a peri... Read Full »
Kindly address my concerns related to rabies anxiety.
Query: Hello doctor,I came here for a second opinion and to get answers to some questions. I spoke to a doctor of general medicine today for my rabies anxiety. The incidents were as follows. Four years ago, a German shepherd of my friend scratched my hand. The dog died one and a half years after he bit me.... Read Full »
Dr. Satpute Ganeshkumar Suresh
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Here are your answers: 1. Even if there is no history in your locality, any dog can get infected with rabies. You need to follow the dog who had bitten you for ten days. If it is alive after ten days, then he was not rabid. If you cannot identify that dog or cannot ... Read Full »