How does rabies present after a mouse bite? - briefly
After a mouse bite, the incubation period usually spans two to eight weeks, during which the animal often shows no symptoms. Clinical rabies then manifests as neurologic disturbances such as altered behavior, paralysis, hypersalivation, and eventual death.
How does rabies present after a mouse bite? - in detail
Rabies infection after a bite from a laboratory or wild mouse follows the same pathophysiology as other mammalian exposures. The virus enters peripheral nerves at the wound site and travels centripetally toward the central nervous system.
The incubation period varies widely, typically ranging from two weeks to several months, depending on bite location, viral load, and host immunity. Bites on the head or neck shorten the interval because of the reduced distance to the brain.
Once the virus reaches the brain, the prodromal phase lasts one to three days and is characterized by:
- Low‑grade fever
- Malaise
- Headache
- Paresthesia or tingling at the bite site
Progression to the overt neurological phase produces two major clinical patterns:
-
Furious (encephalitic) form
- Agitation, irritability, and aggression
- Hyperactivity with intermittent periods of apparent calm
- Hydrophobia: refusal to drink and panic when presented with water
- Aerophobia: distress when exposed to airflow or drafts
- Excessive salivation and foaming due to impaired swallowing
-
Paralytic (dumb) form
- Progressive muscle weakness beginning at the bite site and spreading proximally
- Flaccid paralysis of limbs, facial muscles, and eventually respiratory muscles
- Absence of the classic hydrophobia and aerophobia signs
- Often misdiagnosed as other neuropathies because of subtle early manifestations
Both forms converge on a final stage of coma and respiratory failure, leading to death within days if untreated.
Laboratory confirmation can be achieved by detection of rabies antigen in skin biopsies, saliva, or cerebrospinal fluid using immunofluorescence or PCR. Post‑exposure prophylaxis—wound cleansing, rabies immunoglobulin, and a series of rabies vaccines—must be initiated immediately after the bite, regardless of the low prevalence of rabies in murine populations. Delayed treatment dramatically reduces survival chances.
In summary, a mouse bite can transmit rabies, producing an incubation period of weeks to months, a brief prodrome of nonspecific symptoms, and either a furious or paralytic neurological syndrome that culminates in rapid deterioration without prompt prophylaxis.