Written By: Muskan Gupta | Published : February 24, 2026 1:18 PM IST
Rabies After Dog Bite: The recent incident from Maharashtra, where a man reportedly died by suicide after developing intense fear of rabies following a stray dog bite, has once again brought attention to the seriousness of rabies and the importance of awareness about its treatment. Rabies is a disease which can be prevented if the treatment is done properly and in time. Most regrettable is that fear and misinformation turn to panic, particularly in the rural and semi-urban regions.
Here's all you need to understand about rabies and the treatment protocol followed in India.
Rabies is a viral disease, which is transmitted by the saliva of the affected animals; the most common being the dogs. The virus reaches the central nervous system and, when the symptoms set in, it is practically incurable. The thing is, though, most of the folks do not know the following, rabies is entirely preventable in case of immediate treatment in the aftermath of exposure.
Street dog bites have been the most widespread source of infection in India. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it has been estimated that a large percentage of global rabies deaths is recorded in India, this iswith respect to unawareness and absence of treatment to rabies, conducted on time.
Not all dog bites result in rabies. The risk depends on:
The virus is not transmitted via sound skin. It gets into the body by way of broken skin, severe bites, or scratches that are affected by saliva.
India has the national guidelines under the National Rabies Control Programme subject to the global standards. This procedure is referred to as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and has to be initiated early enough.
This is the most important step and the first.
Physicians categorise the bite into three groups:
In case of the necessity of vaccination, physicians use an anti-rabies vaccine that is delivered either intramuscularly or intradermally. The normal routine (Essen regimen) is as follows:
This is because it is very necessary to take the complete course, despite the dog later appearing healthy.
In Category III bites, rabies immunoglobulin is administered around the wound in order to stop the virus immediately. This is administered a single time, preferably on Day 0.
In India, two of them exist:
They are offered in government hospitals under health programmes and in many cases, they are free of cost.
Rabies is unfortunately nearly always lethal once it has developed the symptoms of hydrophobia (fear of water), agitation, confusion or paralysis. The importance of early vaccination is why it is a life-saving measure.
It is important, however, to emphasise the fact that not all rabies develops at once. The time of incubation may be weeks or months. PEP at this time will prevent this disease one hundred per cent.
Cases such as the one in Maharashtra point out another grave problem, that is panic forming out of fear. The fear following dog attack is not unusual and this has been so due to the increased awareness concerning the dangers of rabies. However, the current vaccines are effective and safe.
Instead of panic:
Rabies is preventable. What makes treatment riskier is delayed treatment and not the bite.
Disclaimer: Dear readers, this article provides general information and advice only. It is not at all professional medical advice. Therefore, always consult your doctor or a healthcare specialist for more information. TheHealthSite.com does not claim responsibility for this information.
