Rabies: Neurology

Abstract

Rabies is an ancient disease, but it remains an important problem and threat to humans in countries with endemic dog rabies, especially in Asia and Africa. Rabies in wildlife, particularly from bats, is the main threat to humans in North America. Human rabies often has distinctive clinical features reflecting the early brainstem involvement, including hydrophobia, but physicians in North America and Europe may not consider a diagnosis of rabies because the disease is rare and their lack of familiarity with the clinical manifestations. There is progressive neurological deterioration in rabies and the disease is virtually always fatal. With aggressive approaches there are a variety of medical complications, including multiple organ failure. The therapy of human rabies has proven to be disappointing. Entirely new approaches need to be considered in the future.