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I’m Getting My PEP Rabies Shot Tomorrow For Potential Exposure
Posted on
Fri, 25 Sep 2020
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 25 Sep 2020
Answered on
Wed, 18 Jun 2025
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi there.
I’m getting my PEP rabies shot tomorrow for potential exposure but I’m freaking out because I have a sore throat that just developed. It’s not extremely painful only a dull pain and no other symptoms like headache nausea vomiting fever etc. It’s also only been 12 days since a potential exposure could have occurred.
If I had rabies would I be feeling more symptoms at once than just a sore throat?
The exposure I had if any would have been on my leg, is it even possible to develop symptoms within 12 days. I read that the incubation period is usually 1-3 months and In rare cases (like if a bite happened on the skull) as low as 10 days.
Do you think I’m ok?
I’m getting my PEP rabies shot tomorrow for potential exposure but I’m freaking out because I have a sore throat that just developed. It’s not extremely painful only a dull pain and no other symptoms like headache nausea vomiting fever etc. It’s also only been 12 days since a potential exposure could have occurred.
If I had rabies would I be feeling more symptoms at once than just a sore throat?
The exposure I had if any would have been on my leg, is it even possible to develop symptoms within 12 days. I read that the incubation period is usually 1-3 months and In rare cases (like if a bite happened on the skull) as low as 10 days.
Do you think I’m ok?
Brief Answer:
Sore throat not much related to rabies.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor's service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
You are ok. Incubation period of rabies may last 1-3 months and during this period you will not have symptoms.
Having PEP for rabies will help you fight it.
The sore throat you are having is possibly not related to it. If it was from rabies also other symptoms may have developed like , weakness, discomfort, fever and headache.
You don't have to worry about rabies while just having sore throat.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Sore throat not much related to rabies.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, welcome to Ask a doctor's service.
I read your query and here is my advice.
You are ok. Incubation period of rabies may last 1-3 months and during this period you will not have symptoms.
Having PEP for rabies will help you fight it.
The sore throat you are having is possibly not related to it. If it was from rabies also other symptoms may have developed like , weakness, discomfort, fever and headache.
You don't have to worry about rabies while just having sore throat.
Hope I have answered the question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Also you’re saying that for rabies symptoms I for sure would not be developing them this early?
I’m concerned because I’m getting the vaccine today but it says online as soon as rabies symptoms develop (sore throat, possibly) its 100 percent fatal
I’m concerned because I’m getting the vaccine today but it says online as soon as rabies symptoms develop (sore throat, possibly) its 100 percent fatal
Brief Answer:
Not much related to rabies.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
I don't think this is rabies just by having a sore or itching throat.
I think this can be more related to allergies or the common cold.
You may need to rinse the nose with a saline solution to help unplug the nose.
The symptoms may develop this early such numbness in bite side, headache, fever, etc.
Not much related to rabies.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
I don't think this is rabies just by having a sore or itching throat.
I think this can be more related to allergies or the common cold.
You may need to rinse the nose with a saline solution to help unplug the nose.
The symptoms may develop this early such numbness in bite side, headache, fever, etc.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Do the photos attached look like the vaccine has been administered to the ventrogluteal muscle?
Brief Answer:
Deltoid region is preferable.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
I see the photos you attached and gluteal region is not used for rabies vaccination.
Deltoid region is preferable for it.
Gluteal region administration of vaccine makes it less effective.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Deltoid region is preferable.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
I see the photos you attached and gluteal region is not used for rabies vaccination.
Deltoid region is preferable for it.
Gluteal region administration of vaccine makes it less effective.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Ok thank you.
I did receive the rabies vaccination in my arm like instructed. I received the immunoglobulin in the gluteal region. I’m not sure if that was clear. I have talked to other doctors all who say that it is fine to have immunoglobulin in the gluteal region just not the actual vaccine. There’s only one site that I found saying that also IG shouldn’t be administered due to unpredictable absorption but all other sites including WHO don’t say that there are restrictions for where IG can and cannot be administered. Can you please tell me if my immunoglobulin shot is effective because if it isn’t effective I don’t know what else to do I can’t get the shot redone and the nurse said that is where it is usually administered.
I did receive the rabies vaccination in my arm like instructed. I received the immunoglobulin in the gluteal region. I’m not sure if that was clear. I have talked to other doctors all who say that it is fine to have immunoglobulin in the gluteal region just not the actual vaccine. There’s only one site that I found saying that also IG shouldn’t be administered due to unpredictable absorption but all other sites including WHO don’t say that there are restrictions for where IG can and cannot be administered. Can you please tell me if my immunoglobulin shot is effective because if it isn’t effective I don’t know what else to do I can’t get the shot redone and the nurse said that is where it is usually administered.
This is the link to the website can u please tell me if this is a valid site because to me it doesn’t look very valid...
https://m.pdr.net/Mobile/Pages/drug-summary/Imogam-rabies-immune-globulin--human--2915
https://m.pdr.net/Mobile/Pages/drug-summary/Imogam-rabies-immune-globulin--human--2915
Brief Answer:
The injection site is well chosen.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
The things are clearer now.
You got injected the vaccine in deltoid region and immunoglobulin in gluteal region and this is good.
The immunoglobulin should be injected at a distant site from vaccine and at the nearest site with bite.
You were thinking for a bite or scratch on thigh ( yet not much clear bite site) and the gluteal region is near it.
I see also what this page is saying but the injection was done near bite so it is really effective.
Don't worry anymore about effectiveness of immunoglobulin and vaccine because everything is ok and will protect you.
Regards.
The injection site is well chosen.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
The things are clearer now.
You got injected the vaccine in deltoid region and immunoglobulin in gluteal region and this is good.
The immunoglobulin should be injected at a distant site from vaccine and at the nearest site with bite.
You were thinking for a bite or scratch on thigh ( yet not much clear bite site) and the gluteal region is near it.
I see also what this page is saying but the injection was done near bite so it is really effective.
Don't worry anymore about effectiveness of immunoglobulin and vaccine because everything is ok and will protect you.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Brief Answer:
The injection site is well chosen.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
The things are clearer now.
You got injected the vaccine in deltoid region and immunoglobulin in gluteal region and this is good.
The immunoglobulin should be injected at a distant site from vaccine and at the nearest site with bite.
You were thinking for a bite or scratch on thigh ( yet not much clear bite site) and the gluteal region is near it.
I see also what this page is saying but the injection was done near bite so it is really effective.
Don't worry anymore about effectiveness of immunoglobulin and vaccine because everything is ok and will protect you.
Regards.
The injection site is well chosen.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear and thank you for asking again.
The things are clearer now.
You got injected the vaccine in deltoid region and immunoglobulin in gluteal region and this is good.
The immunoglobulin should be injected at a distant site from vaccine and at the nearest site with bite.
You were thinking for a bite or scratch on thigh ( yet not much clear bite site) and the gluteal region is near it.
I see also what this page is saying but the injection was done near bite so it is really effective.
Don't worry anymore about effectiveness of immunoglobulin and vaccine because everything is ok and will protect you.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Well the bite site is actually unknown. But either way, you’re saying it’s fine to get immunoglobulin in buttocks and it will still be effective?
Some websites say don’t and some websites say do, so I have no idea what to believe. But my doctor said that many people who get this shot do receive the immunoglobulin portion in the gluteal area.
I’m scared because the website said that it is unpredictable absorption, which I guess would mean that it’s not as effective?
Do I need to get the immunoglobulin re-administered or is it helping me either way? I do not have much fat on my body so my fat adipose tissue is probably lower in that area than on most people. The nurse also aspirated and made sure that the immunoglobulin went directly into a muscle in that area.
Some websites say don’t and some websites say do, so I have no idea what to believe. But my doctor said that many people who get this shot do receive the immunoglobulin portion in the gluteal area.
I’m scared because the website said that it is unpredictable absorption, which I guess would mean that it’s not as effective?
Do I need to get the immunoglobulin re-administered or is it helping me either way? I do not have much fat on my body so my fat adipose tissue is probably lower in that area than on most people. The nurse also aspirated and made sure that the immunoglobulin went directly into a muscle in that area.
Well the bite site is actually unknown. But either way, you’re saying it’s fine to get immunoglobulin in buttocks and it will still be effective?
Some websites say don’t and some websites say do, so I have no idea what to believe. But my doctor said that many people who get this shot do receive the immunoglobulin portion in the gluteal area.
I’m scared because the website said that it is unpredictable absorption, which I guess would mean that it’s not as effective?
Do I need to get the immunoglobulin re-administered or is it helping me either way? I do not have much fat on my body so my fat adipose tissue is probably lower in that area than on most people. The nurse also aspirated and made sure that the immunoglobulin went directly into a muscle in that area.
Some websites say don’t and some websites say do, so I have no idea what to believe. But my doctor said that many people who get this shot do receive the immunoglobulin portion in the gluteal area.
I’m scared because the website said that it is unpredictable absorption, which I guess would mean that it’s not as effective?
Do I need to get the immunoglobulin re-administered or is it helping me either way? I do not have much fat on my body so my fat adipose tissue is probably lower in that area than on most people. The nurse also aspirated and made sure that the immunoglobulin went directly into a muscle in that area.
Brief Answer:
No need to worry, it will be effective.
Detailed Answer:
I don't think that you may need another immunoglobulin injection.
I think that ventrogluteal muscle was the right site to do immunoglobulin injection since you received the vaccine on arm.
No need to worry, it will be effective.
Detailed Answer:
I don't think that you may need another immunoglobulin injection.
I think that ventrogluteal muscle was the right site to do immunoglobulin injection since you received the vaccine on arm.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Brief Answer:
No need to worry, it will be effective.
Detailed Answer:
I don't think that you may need another immunoglobulin injection.
I think that ventrogluteal muscle was the right site to do immunoglobulin injection since you received the vaccine on arm.
No need to worry, it will be effective.
Detailed Answer:
I don't think that you may need another immunoglobulin injection.
I think that ventrogluteal muscle was the right site to do immunoglobulin injection since you received the vaccine on arm.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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