Dog Bite: Rabies Treatment for Humans
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It was December 31, 2019. My father asked me to bring some carpentry materials to my uncle living next to our house. No walls are separating our lot from them. The only security was the dog which I did not notice. The dog's mouth bit my left leg before I became aware of the dog's presence.
Post Exposure Prophylaxis
I did not notice the wound at that moment because there was no bleeding. I realized that there was a cut when the pain started to rise from the bitten area up to my legs. I immediately wash the bitten area with flowing water (from the faucet) and sulfur soap. I forced blood to come out by putting pressure on the area of my leg where I felt a tingling sensation down to the area of the wound. Blood came out and I washed the wound again. Nobody's aware I got a wound from a dog bite.I did not panic as I saw the dog bite my leg. It was the first time I got a dog bite, but I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid to die, but I am concerned about the long-term effect of rabies if I refuse to undergo anti-rabies vaccination sessions. So, I went to a public hospital on January 2, 2020. I did not come early because I thought only a few people would go to the hospital on that day, but I was wrong. There's a limited slot on the animal bite section and if the person in the 1st procedure (the listing of patients) did not insert my name on the list, I may not be able to get a vaccine on that day. I did not give a bribe or do anything for him. He did it on his own will and I don't know why. Maybe he's aware of how dangerous rabies is if it will not be immediately attended to. I am very grateful to him that I even planned to give him a gift, but he was not on duty on the days I returned. Hopefully, he's doing well.
It took several minutes before my name was called. The in-charge gave me a paper where the details about me were written. My blood pressure, temperature, height, and weight were checked. Then I proceed to the doctor who will administer the medicines I must buy.
ATS1500 "U" #2 am, Tetanus Toxoid 0.5 ml #1 am, Syringe 3 cc #2, and Disposable needle g27 #1 are on the first paper. The second paper is Anti-Rabies Vaccine vial #1 (SPEEDA) Sig: AD, Equine Rabies Immunoglobulin 1,00 IU vial # (EQUIRAB) Sig: AD, Insulin Syringe # 3 and Disposable Needle g-27 # 1,00. According to the doctor, SPEEDA is the most affordable anti-rabies, so that's what she checked. She knew that the vaccines for the next shot were expensive, so she gave me a medical abstract with a recommendation, " For financial assistance ". She told me to go to " Malasakit ", a project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that aims to help those in need. I went there to no avail, but I am grateful to the doctor for her recommendation (I was able to use it at DSWD's regional office).
I went out to buy what was written on those papers then went to the Anti-tetanus section (ATS), as the doctor said. I put my paper on the person (in charge's) table as part of the procedure, gave her the vaccines I bought, and waited for a few hours. When my name was called, I sat on the chair where I would get an injection. The nurse injected a small amount of the anti-tetanus (AT) in my hand and created a small circle (using a blue ballpen) following the bump after the AT was injected. I was curious about what that was about until she told me to go to the room where the surgeon was and enter the room after 15 or 20 minutes (I already forgot the exact time). While waiting outside, a man who's been there several times talked to me and we did some chit-chat about rabies and tetanus. That's how I learned that the circle created by the nurse was the guide for the surgeon to know if I was allergic to that AT. Sadly, I am and the surgeon recommended another AT (INIG 250 IU # 1 Sig: AD) which is quite expensive according to her. She gave me a medical abstract with a recommendation, "For financial assistance " which helped me greatly and I'm ultimately thankful to her for that.
After that, I went back to the nurse at the ATS and she told me to return the AT (to where I bought it) for a refund. Unfortunately, the seller did not give me a refund because she said the AT had been exposed to the sunlight and the ice was gone. I hate quarreling, so I just accepted her explanation, returned the AT (because I don't know how to dispose of it), and went back to the Outpatient Department (OPD) to get an anti-rabies Vaccine (for free). Yes, the first shot of anti-rabies is free (in terms of money) in a public hospital (the main reason I chose to be there).
My second scheduled injection was on January 6, 2020. I didn't have enough money to buy those vaccines, so I went to DSWD and brought my medical abstracts with the Rx (and my ID). I doubted if I'd get the medical assistance because I failed to get a barangay clearance (our barangay was closed when I went there at around 8:00 AM), but I remained positive and believed they would consider it. I asked the security guard where I should go and he pointed to the office I must enter. As I entered that room, no client was there, so I was immediately served (thankfully, barangay clearance is not necessary) and went to the next office where I was asked to fill up a form and waited for several minutes outside that office. The place is not new to me because I've been there several times to attend a job examination and interview (but at a different office). I was also interviewed as my name was called, but the interview was different at that time. It was quite an offending interview because the interviewer (who's younger than me, I guess), said things to her workmate that were not about me, but I think that was intentionally said to insult me. She had the right to judge me because she didn't know my story, so I just smiled at her. I did not take her words personally and that led me to get the vaccines I needed, for free (the monetary cost of the vaccine). At that moment, I did not think of shame because my life's at risk of the consequences of unattended rabies. I'm not afraid to die, but not in the way rabies kills. I do not want my parents and family to suffer from my mistakes.
As I got the recommendation from DSWD, I went to the pharmacy they told me where I should get the vaccines. It took me several minutes (almost an hour I think) before I got them and I was even asked to buy ice because there were no available ice cubes in their fridge as the woman who attended to me said. It was quite frustrating, but I kept a positive mindset.
I was alone, walking around the city with a vaccine and ice in my hand. It was a sunny day and I didn't have an umbrella. The ice was melting rapidly. I need to go to the hospital immediately, but it is far away. I walked as fast as I could to catch a jeepney. Thank God, I arrived before the ice melted completely. It was a very challenging day.
Reminiscing that day makes me smile (and sad at the same time). I did not ever think I'd be in that situation, but with the struggles I've faced before, I know I can survive. I have a scheduled injection on January 30, 2020, the last vaccine. Fortunately, I forgot about it and the dog is okay, so I think the last shot is not necessary. My last injection was on January 9, 2020 (Day 7). I got 3 shots of the vaccine and then waited until Day 28 to observe the dog and my condition. I decided not to have the last injection because aside from financial reasons, the dog that bit me is doing fine and my health is also in good condition. But to others, it is better to get the last injection to be sure (especially if the rabid dog dies or is lost).
Rabies Treatment for Humans?
Rabies has no cure (based on my research), and it is very dangerous once it reaches a person's brain (or nervous system), but it can be prevented. Watch the documentary about the victims of rabies here. If you do not want to become one of the victims, the precautionary measures, if you have a dog, never forget to bring him/her to the vet for a shot of the anti-rabies vaccine. Be a responsible citizen.Read More
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