Rabies (from the Latin word “madness”) has been recognized for over four thousand years. The first record of rabies dates back to 2300 B.C. in the Babylonian city of Eshnunna when dog owners were forced to pay a fine for causing the deaths of other people. Since then, many notable writers and philosophers such as Homer, Democritus, and Aristotle have also recorded rabies, mostly through cases of canine rabies (or rabies received through a rabid dog).
During the 16th century, Girolamo Fracastoro, an Italian physicist, discovered that rabies was a fatal disease and affected both humans and animals. However, the fear of rabies was irrational due to the number of rabid carriers and the absence of any treatment.
It wasn’t until 1881 when French …show more content…
Although Rabies can infect a variety of cell types, it primarily targets neurons. The virus spreads from the peripheral nerves to the neuron’s cell body. After replication in the cell body of the primary neuron, the infection spreads to other neurons. After this, acinar cells are infected. These cells “shed” the virus into the mouth, which accounts for the presence of the virus in saliva.
Symptoms
Typically, different symptoms are noticed at each of the five stages of Rabies: The first stage, incubation, usually lasts one to three months, but may be as few as five days or as long as two years. Vague symptoms, such as “malaise, mild fever and gastrointestinal upset”, usually take place within ten days. In some cases, “insomnia, nightmares, agitation or depression” can occur. In the next stage, the acute neurological period, one of the two is reached. The first is called “furious”, which affects the brain and causes the patient to foam at the mouth. The other, “paralytic”, affects the spinal cord and causes the patient to become weak and unable to swallow.. People with rabies usually have “hydrophobia”, or the fear of water, which occurs due to irregular contractions in their breathing muscles when exposed to
During the 16th century, Girolamo Fracastoro, an Italian physicist, discovered that rabies was a fatal disease and affected both humans and animals. However, the fear of rabies was irrational due to the number of rabid carriers and the absence of any treatment.
It wasn’t until 1881 when French …show more content…
Although Rabies can infect a variety of cell types, it primarily targets neurons. The virus spreads from the peripheral nerves to the neuron’s cell body. After replication in the cell body of the primary neuron, the infection spreads to other neurons. After this, acinar cells are infected. These cells “shed” the virus into the mouth, which accounts for the presence of the virus in saliva.
Symptoms
Typically, different symptoms are noticed at each of the five stages of Rabies: The first stage, incubation, usually lasts one to three months, but may be as few as five days or as long as two years. Vague symptoms, such as “malaise, mild fever and gastrointestinal upset”, usually take place within ten days. In some cases, “insomnia, nightmares, agitation or depression” can occur. In the next stage, the acute neurological period, one of the two is reached. The first is called “furious”, which affects the brain and causes the patient to foam at the mouth. The other, “paralytic”, affects the spinal cord and causes the patient to become weak and unable to swallow.. People with rabies usually have “hydrophobia”, or the fear of water, which occurs due to irregular contractions in their breathing muscles when exposed to