Dr. Hive: Rabies ?????

[DaffodilDreams]

Friday night, dd and her friends saved a chipmunk from a neighborhood cat. Dd got bit by the chipmunk. The kids were just riding bikes and scootering on the sidewalk, so who would have thought?! I washed the wound and took her next door to talk to our ER nurse neighbor. She called the ER and spoke with them. They told her that as long as dd is up to date on tetanus shots, to just wash the wound very well with soap and water (I already did but I went home and did it again), and then watch for redness, heat, swelling, etc. around the wound. The wound never got infected - seems great. I specifically asked about rabies and was told it's very rare, and I shouldn't have to worry about it. So I didn't worry at first. Then someone else mentioned what about rabies, and I started researching on my own. Now I'm terrified because once symptoms appear, it's too late. Yes, it's very rare for a small rodent to carry rabies, but there have been a few cases. I don't want dd to be a rare victim, so we now have an appt to see the ped tomorrow to discuss risk and rabies vaccinations. Has anyone on here ever gone through the series or had a family member do so? Is there a risk with getting the vaccine if you have not been exposed for certain? From what I can tell, the vaccination series is much shorter and easier than it once was, but it's still 5 shots spread out over a short period of time (thankfully no longer in the stomach). This is one of those times where I just don't know what to do. If I knew the vaccine wouldn't harm her at all if she does not have the virus, then I would probably say let's err on the side of caution and do the vaccination. If there's a chance of terrible side effects or even contracting the disease itself, then I don't know what to do. Live in fear for the next few months?

 

As a side note, ER nurse neighbor's dd has also been bitten by a chipmunk in our neighborhood before, but she is fine - never even considered the shots. Am I just a paranoid freak who made things worse by researching on my own?

 

I think dd knows the importance of not handling wild animals now - especially without protective gloves or an adult around. I hate that it has come to this. I thought I taught her better, but apparently her heart won out over her head that evening (and yes, I am aware she's young and not expected to think rationally).

[LauraGB]

I think symptoms show up within 48 hours. Here is some information from a local girl who was one of the few who survived rabies. That page is her story, but she has a section with rabies informational links, too. Hope it helps.

[Perry]

Yes, it's very rare for a small rodent to carry rabies, but there have been a few cases.

This is true. For me, it would depend on location and whether there has been rabies reported recently. I would suggest calling your state health department and ask to speak with someone knowledgeable about rabies.

[Perry]

I think symptoms show up within 48 hours.

The incubation period for rabies is typically long.

CDC

The time between the bite and the appearance of symptoms is called the incubation period and it may last for weeks to months. A bite by the animal during the incubation period does not carry a risk of rabies because the virus has not yet made it to the saliva.

 

WebMD

Symptoms in humans may take from several days to more than a year to appear, although most people have signs of disease within 2 to 3 months. Medical care to prevent rabies is advised even if symptoms do not appear soon after exposure to the virus.

[Sputterduck]

I just went through the series. It's very easy now.

 

FWIW, the risk would be much higher if the chipmunk came up to them. Wild animals get suddenly "friendly" at a certain point if they have it.

 

Do you have health insurance. I think the immunoglobulin cost thousands. The shots are pricey but not that much. The first time you bring her in, if you do the series, it's immunoglobulin and a vaccine shot.

[LauraGB]

The incubation period for rabies is typically long.

CDC

 

 

WebMD

 

Thanks for the correction! Sorry for the misinformation, kimmie!

[Matryoshka]

My family all has their rabies shots, as we kept getting bats in the house. If there's a bat in the room when you're asleep, there's no way to tell if you've been bitten, and even though it's rare, as you say, once the symptoms show up, it's too late. And it's fatal (yes, I know about the one girl who was put in a coma. She still had severe neurological impairment.)

 

So... we got the shots. It really wasn't a big deal - the shots are now subcutaneous and in the arm.

[DawnM]

I am so glad to hear someone else did this. The CDC STRONGLY recommends getting shots if you wake up to a bat flying over your head, which we had.

 

We all got the series......some people thought we were crazy, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

It did cost us about $750 total for all 5 of us to get the series after insurance ($1000 each total but insurance paid the rest.)

 

The first shots were the globulin shots, given in the rear end and those were painful. The rest are in the arm and really even my youngest said he didn't feel a thing.

 

Dawn

 

My family all has their rabies shots, as we kept getting bats in the house. If there's a bat in the room when you're asleep, there's no way to tell if you've been bitten, and even though it's rare, as you say, once the symptoms show up, it's too late. And it's fatal (yes, I know about the one girl who was put in a coma. She still had severe neurological impairment.)

 

So... we got the shots. It really wasn't a big deal - the shots are now subcutaneous and in the arm.

[DaffodilDreams]

Thank you all for sharing info and experiences. The blog from the survivor has pretty much settled things for me. If the ped is willing to administer the shots, I'd rather play it safe. I'll let you know what happens.

[Lizzie in Ma]

I wouldn't be overly concerned. It is truly rare in small rodents.

:grouphug:

[kalanamak]

This is true. For me, it would depend on location and whether there has been rabies reported recently. I would suggest calling your state health department and ask to speak with someone knowledgeable about rabies.

 

:iagree:At least in our state, the infectious disease specialist is a vet who is very, very nice. When you get the statistics on rabies incidence by animal species, you may be less alarmed. :grouphug:

[DianeW88]

You don't need a shot for a chipmunk bite. If the chipmunk had been bitten by an animal with rabies, the wound would have killed it. They're just too small. As a peds nurse, we never administered them for anything but dogs or bats. Even squirrels are too small to have survived an attack by a rabid animal. I suspect your ped will tell you the same thing.

[DawnM]

What about raccoons? We were told that in this area there is more instance of rabies in raccoons than even in bats.

 

Dawn

 

You don't need a shot for a chipmunk bite. If the chipmunk had been bitten by an animal with rabies, the wound would have killed it. They're just too small. As a peds nurse, we never administered them for anything but dogs or bats. Even squirrels are too small to have survived an attack by a rabid animal. I suspect your ped will tell you the same thing.

[ocelotmom]

FWIW, the risk would be much higher if the chipmunk came up to them. Wild animals get suddenly "friendly" at a certain point if they have it.

I agree.

 

It's not a suspicious bite. She was bitten under a circumstance where getting bitten is to be expected. If the chipmunk had been acting overly friendly, or if they'd rescued a chipmunk that had been acting sick, I'd be more concerned.

 

Which isn't to say if she should get the vaccination or not. For me, that would depend on whether rabies was a known problem at all in the area.

[ocelotmom]

Thank you all for sharing info and experiences. The blog from the survivor has pretty much settled things for me. If the ped is willing to administer the shots, I'd rather play it safe. I'll let you know what happens.

 

Ok, I'm curious, and google is failing me. Where is her blog?

[jentancalann]

My husband got the shots a few years ago when he got bat pee in his mouth. Gross, huh? He's not around at the moment to ask how they were, but I think you got some good responses about that. I barely remember it, I don't think they were bad at all.

[Meriwether]

What about raccoons? We were told that in this area there is more instance of rabies in raccoons than even in bats.

 

Dawn

 

 

I was just wondering about this today. Our medium sized (but on the small side of medium) dog was eating a raccoon this morning. I don't think she killed it. I'm wondering how it died. I think we'll keep the dog penned. I haven't found the raccoon yet. If it was road kill, I won't worry. Otherwise, I'm not sure what to think.

[Sputterduck]

I am so glad to hear someone else did this. The CDC STRONGLY recommends getting shots if you wake up to a bat flying over your head, which we had.

 

We all got the series......some people thought we were crazy, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

It did cost us about $750 total for all 5 of us to get the series after insurance ($1000 each total but insurance paid the rest.)

 

The first shots were the globulin shots, given in the rear end and those were painful. The rest are in the arm and really even my youngest said he didn't feel a thing.

 

Dawn

 

Oooooo. How long ago was that? You're not supposed to do that anymore.

[DaffodilDreams]

You don't need a shot for a chipmunk bite. If the chipmunk had been bitten by an animal with rabies, the wound would have killed it. They're just too small. As a peds nurse, we never administered them for anything but dogs or bats. Even squirrels are too small to have survived an attack by a rabid animal. I suspect your ped will tell you the same thing.

 

Where were you earlier?! : ) (switched to google chrome and ever since the smilies quit working for me, so now I have to make my own)

 

Though, our ped did say in the past they've had cases of rabid squirrels here.

[DaffodilDreams]

Okay, we're back. No shots. Our ped called infectious disease and the cdc. Our state has not had a case of any rabid animal for over a year and never had a case of a rabid chipmunk. I do feel better after seeing the ped so it wasn't a wasted visit.

[DaffodilDreams]

Ok, I'm curious, and google is failing me. Where is her blog?

 

 

LauraG posted a link in her response.

 

http://site.jeannagiese.com/My_Story.html

 

Quite an experience!

[kalanamak]

Okay, we're back. No shots. Our ped called infectious disease and the cdc. Our state has not had a case of any rabid animal for over a year and never had a case of a rabid chipmunk. I do feel better after seeing the ped so it wasn't a wasted visit.

 

Good ped! Even is s/he already knew it, those calls gave you a big golden seal to make you sleep well tonight. A ped after my own heart!

[DianeW88]

Where were you earlier?! : ) (switched to google chrome and ever since the smilies quit working for me, so now I have to make my own)

 

Though, our ped did say in the past they've had cases of rabid squirrels here.

 

LOL...I'm glad it worked out for you. A lot of it depends on the area of the country in which you live. Rabid squirrels are not a problem here in Utah. Plus, ours are MUCH smaller than the squirrels in the east or south (closer to chipmunk size), so not likely to survive a bite from a rabid creature. The only animals we've had here that have turned up with rabies in recent years have been bats.

 

As for raccoons...they're probably large enough to survive a bite. That would be a regional thing again. If you've had rabid raccoons in your area, the vaccines would be a good idea, and animal control and the local docs would know.

 

Glad it worked out for your kiddo. The shots aren't a big deal anymore, just a hassle, but they can be expensive and they're not always covered by insurance, depending on the circumstances of the bite.