Can Rabies Be Contracted Through Skin Contact With An Infected Person?

Posted on Tue, 4 Apr 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 4 Apr 2017 Answered on

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Doc I have few Questions:-

1. I was In A clinic. A Boy Come there and said to the doctor that he was bitten By a Dog before 1-2 hour before in his Leg and he showed it to the doctor. Doctor recomendedhim vaccination. And when He was Going Out from that Doc's Room He touched My Hand...
Can I get Rabies In this way? Should I worried about this incident?? I did not Found any open Wound on my hand there are Very much Tiny SCAB, minor pimples , red rashes. OR this incident has not any exposure and Im safe.

2. Doc if a person has taken two booster doses and after 3-4 day of thhttp://www.healthcaremagic.com/web/images/ui/consultNew.pngese booster doses an exposure of rabies happend than, will you recomend two more booster doses of that person?

3. How long a person dont need any vaccination who took booster doses??

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You will never get rabies by touching the boy who was bitten

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.

1. Rabies cannot be transmitted in the way mentioned by you. The boy cannot give you rabies by touching you.

Rabies risk is there only for the boy and if he took vaccination as recommended then he will never get rabies.

2. The booster doses are given to generate antibodies against rabies. After taking 2 booster doses the antibodies will take 30 days to generate the optimum level of antibodies so getting bitten after 3 to 4 days does not require more boosters. If the person is bitten after a month or 6 months then the doctor will examine the wound and then decide if booster is required.

3. Usually the duration of not requiring booster differs in every country. In XXXXXXX we usually recommend booster after 6 months but if the wound is big then booster can be given even after a month.

Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)

Thank You Doctor for Your Quick Response In detail....

Actully I read WHO where They say two Booster Doses Require if any exposure happend after Pre-exposure vaccination and Post-exposure prophylaxis. This makes me confuse.

1. Doctor Are You 100 percent Sure that I will not Get Rabies In this way.... ? Actully I was Thinking He might Touch his wound where Dog Bitten and with same hand he touched my Biceps .His hands contain saliva of dog or something...
My Biceps has some Red Rashes, pimples and very tiny SCAB.
Is That Tiny SCAB will not be able to trasmit Rabies? Actully I read that Rabies an be trasmit if saliva touch Minor scratch or Abrations...

2. Doc you mean after taking two booster doses (On day 0 and day 3) If a dog Bite a person after 4-8 days than In this situation person don need any vaccination...Right??

3. doctor I took AbhayRab(5 doses) before 2 year... and I took 2 booster doses of Rabipur on Date 26 March 2017 and 29 March 2017.... Is Changing Brand in Vaccine will cause any Impact on vaccine Impact? or they will work perfectly??

4. In My case if there is an exposure after 9 to 10 days than these booster doses will save me?? No more doses required atleast for 9 to 10 days..right??

so doctor according to You Im 100 percent Safe and need No vaccination Right?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are safe from rabies

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. I am 100 percent sure that rabies will not spread in this way and you are safe. The tiny scab is not a risk for rabies.

2. If booster taken on day 0 and day 3 and dog bites after 4 to 8 days then no need of any vaccination.

3. Usually changing brand will not affect immunity but it is better to stick to single brand if available.

4. The booster doses will protect you. There is no need of vaccination.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (14 hours later)

Thank you Doctor For clearing My all Doubts...

This Is My last Msg...
---------------------------

1. Doctor, In which Cases I should be worried about rabies??

2. Can anyone get Rabies By Objects if they have scratch on their hand? such as Table? materials? shaking hands? (If person have Tiny scratch with SCAB in His/her hand) or this is only theortical risk and Practical risk doesnot exists in this way...?? Haver You seen any Non Bite case of rabies?

3. You Mean TINY SCAB(खुरंट) will Not be able to trasmit Rabies In This case?

Thank You...Gn.. :)

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (28 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Tiny scab will not give rabies.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back.

Rabies is a concern if you have bites which are extensive and bleeding.

No one will get rabies by touching table, shaking hands. Bats (animals) can transmit rabies by touching in some cases.

Tiny scan will not give rabies.

Regards,

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D