Clinical and epidemiological features of human rabies cases in the Philippines: a review from 1987 to 2006

Abstract

This study examines the largest cohort of rabies patients reported to-date. Better understanding of clinical disease manifestations may help in salvage efforts to save patients with rabies. Knowledge of epidemiological factors will improve preventative efforts to reduce suffering from rabies.

Human rabies: a descriptive observation of 21 children in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo

“…Dogs have the main role in the transmission of the disease to humans as found in developing countries. 9,10,12,[21][22][23][24] Exposure in 19 cases (90.5%) was by stray dogs; similar to the situation reported in Ivory Coast.…”

“…This result was reported by other authors in developing countries. [12][13][14]23,25 In this study, the incubation period of human rabies was more than 30 days in 57.1% of cases. This is a typical picture of rabies in humans.…”

“…This low rate is similar to that reported in developing countries with inadequate public health resources. 2,9,10,12 Conventional reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for detection of the rabies virus genome in saliva, corneal swabs, and ante-and post-mortem cerebrospinal fluid was not performed. Therefore, there is no laboratory confirmation of disease or virus characterization.…”

Study on Knowledge, Attitude & Practice about Rabies & Pet Animals among School Children in Bangladesh

“…Vampire bats have been associated with several rabies outbreaks in South America. Bats carry rabies-like viruses (rabies related lyssaviruses) even in terrestrial rabies-free countries in Europe and Australia [4].…”

Diagnostic difficulties in human rabies: A case report and review of the literature

“…In a large series from the Philippines, the characteristic hydrophobia symptom was seen in all cases, and aerophobia in 95.5% of patients. 5 Hydrophobia and aerophobia occur as a result of brainstem encephalitis and the dysfunction of the neurons around the nucleus ambiguous, which inhibit respiratory muscles as a protective mechanism against aspiration, leading to spasms of laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles. 6 Once the features of encephalitis appear, death follows within a few days.…”