The Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan > Diseases and Conditions

​Rabies

Rabies is a deadly disease which is contracted by the saliva of infected animals. An individual may contract the disease when an animal bites him/her. Once the person gets infected, it is usually always fatal. Hence, it is important to get yourself vaccinated if you live closeby to animals (including bats, foxes or stray dogs) which may have rabies.​​

Signs and symptoms of rabies include:

  • Fever

  • Splitting headache

  • Vomiting

  • Nausea

  • Irritation and fatigue

  • Discomfort

  • Anxiety

  • Disorientation

  • Sleep deprivation, possible insomnia

  • Hypertension and hyperactivity

  • Difficulty swallowing

  • Excessive salivation

  • Hydrophobia (fear of water) because of the difficulty in swallowing

  • Hallucinations

  • Partial paralysis
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The above signs may last for days.​​​

Seek medical attention if you’ve been bitten by any animal. Consult the team of esteemed medical specialists working with the ​Internal Medicine Service Line or 24/7 Emergency and Acute Care Services​ at the Aga Khan University Hospital even if you’re not sure if you’ve been bitten or not but you’re sure you’ve been in close contact with an animal. Our doctors will prescribe a treatment accordingly. ​​​​
Your time with your doctor maybe limited, so make sure to prepare for your visit beforehand. Here are some tips to help get you started.​​
There is no way of testing if you have been infected by rabies virus. Hence it is important that you get yourself vaccinated if you’ve been bitten by an animal, irrespective of the fact that you’ve been transmitted the disease or not.​​
There’s no specific treatment for rabies. If you’ve been bitten by an animal, your doctor will give you a vaccine anyway. Usually a fast acting shot is given after which you will have to go through an entire course of medications in the form of injections which come up to around 14 shots over a number of days.​

The Aga Khan University Hospital offers various support services to help with managing or recovering from the disease or condition. These include but are not limited to nutrition, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, specialized clinics and some patient support groups. Your doctor or nurse will advise you accordingly.

The Aga Khan University Hospital offers financial assistance to those who are in need and fulfil the eligibility criteria. For further information, you can contact the Patient Welfare Department. You can find the contact number of the Patient Welfare Department in the 'Important Numbers' section on the website homepage.​

The financial counselling staff is available during office hours, at the main PBSD (Patient Business Services Department), to answer your financial queries on treatments' costs and authorize admissions on partial deposit as per hospital policies allow. The financial counsellor in the emergency room is open 24/7. You can find the contact number of the Patient Business Services in the 'Important Numbers' section on the website homepage.​

Your doctor and or nurse will give you specific instructions about the prescribed medication. Please ensure that you take or use the prescribed medicine as advised. It can be dangerous to your health if you self-prescribe. Please inform the doctor or nurse beforehand if you have experienced any adverse reactions to any medications in the past. If you experience any symptoms of drug poisoning, overdose or severe reaction please contact the Pharmacy Service at The Aga Khan University Hospital immediately. You can find the contact number of the Pharmacy Services in the 'Important Numbers' section on the website homepage.​
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The information provided on our website is for educational purposes and not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always seek the advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional provider.​