Rabies vaccine: a mysterious shield protecting life

In this colorful world, there is a virus that lurks in the dark silently. Once it strikes, almost no one can resist it. It is the rabies virus, and our patron saint is the seemingly ordinary but powerful rabies vaccine. Today, let us unveil this mysterious veil and explore the story behind the rabies vaccine, so that it can become an indispensable part of your life.

1. The shadow of rabies: the truth about hydrophobia

Imagine if one day you suddenly become afraid of drinking water, and even feel terrified when you hear the sound of water. Does this sound like a plot from a science fiction movie? However, this is the most realistic portrayal of rabies patients. Rabies, an ancient and terrible disease, is also called "hydrophobia" because its patients are afraid of drinking water. Once the disease occurs, the patient will experience a series of painful symptoms such as mania, fear, fear of wind and water, drooling and pharyngeal muscle spasm, and eventually reach the end of life. The mortality rate is almost 100%.

Rabies is not just a legend or a film or TV show. It is real and is a constant threat to our health. The virus is mainly transmitted through bites from sick animals, especially dogs and cats, which are the main sources of rabies in humans. But did you know that wild animals such as bats, wolves, and foxes are also potential sources of infection? Therefore, whether in cities or in the countryside, we need to be vigilant at all times.

2. The birth of vaccines: from madness to hope

Faced with the rampant spread of rabies, humans did not sit idly by. As early as the Jin Dynasty, Chinese medical scientist Ge Hong proposed in his book "Emergency Prescriptions for the Elbow" that the method of applying rabies brain tissue to wounds was a preventive and therapeutic method. Although this method was primitive, it contained the seeds of the idea of ​​vaccines. However, it was the French microbiologist Pasteur who really made the rabies vaccine a reality.

In 1882, Pasteur successfully produced a rabies vaccine by continuously subculturing the virus to reduce its virulence. This pioneering work not only saved countless lives, but also laid a solid foundation for the development of modern medical vaccines. Today, rabies vaccines have developed into multiple types, including Vero cell purified vaccines, human diploid cell vaccines, and hamster kidney primary cell purified vaccines, all of which are effective aids in preventing rabies.

3. The power of vaccines: from prevention to treatment

So, how does the rabies vaccine protect us? Simply put, after vaccination, our bodies are stimulated to produce immunity against the rabies virus. These antibodies are like a well-trained army, always ready to eliminate the invading rabies virus and prevent it from multiplying and spreading in our bodies.

But it is worth noting that the focus of rabies vaccine is on "prevention" rather than "treatment". Once rabies occurs, there is currently no specific treatment, so prevention is particularly important. After being bitten by a suspicious animal, timely and standardized wound treatment and vaccination are the key to reducing the risk of disease.

IV. Wound management: the art of racing against time

Imagine if you are accidentally bitten by a stray dog, what should you do next? First, don't panic! Stay calm and follow the steps below to treat the wound:

Drain the blood: For wounds with less bleeding, try to squeeze out the blood, because blood can carry out the rabies virus that may have been brought into the wound by animal saliva. Remember not to suck blood with your mouth, because the rabies virus may enter the brain through tiny damage in the mouth, accelerating the onset of the disease.

Rinse the wound: Use 20% soapy water or Sanisol to rinse the wound repeatedly for at least 15 minutes. This step is very critical because weak alkaline cleaning agents such as soapy water can neutralize the rabies virus and reduce its activity.

Disinfect the wound: After flushing, use 5% iodine tincture to repeatedly cauterize the wound. Unless a large blood vessel is injured and bleeding needs to be stopped urgently, even if the wound is deep and large, it should not be sutured or bandaged, so as to fully expose the wound and reduce the risk of infection.

Injection of passive immunization agents: For patients with deep and large wounds or wounds close to the head, rabies immunoglobulin or anti-rabies serum should be injected as soon as possible. These passive immunization agents can directly neutralize the rabies virus in the wound and provide immediate protection.

5. Vaccination: A shield to protect life

After completing the wound treatment, the next step is vaccination. According to the technical guidelines for the prevention and control of rabies in my country, vaccination should follow certain procedures and doses:

Post-exposure prophylaxis: For general bites, i.e. mild abrasions, scratches or licks on broken skin without bleeding, one dose of vaccine should be given on days 0 (the day of injection), 3, 7, 14 and 28. For severe bites, in addition to the above vaccination, double the vaccine should be given and rabies immunoglobulin or anti-rabies serum should be used in combination.

Treatment after re-exposure: If you are bitten again after a full course of immunization, different doses of vaccine are required depending on the time of exposure. Generally speaking, those who are exposed again within six months after a full course of immunization do not need to be vaccinated again; those who are exposed again within six months to one year should receive one dose of vaccine on days 0 and 3; those who are exposed again within 1 to 3 years should receive one dose of vaccine on days 0, 3, and 7; those who are exposed again more than 3 years should receive the full course of vaccination.

6. Vaccination precautions: details determine success or failure

Rabies vaccination seems simple, but there are many details that need attention:

Choose a regular medical institution: Vaccination should be carried out in a regular hospital or CDC with rescue equipment to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Vaccination on time: Too short or too long intervals between vaccinations will affect the efficacy of the vaccine. Therefore, vaccinations must be carried out strictly according to the schedule arranged by the doctor.

Diet and rest: Avoid spicy and irritating foods and strenuous exercise during vaccination. Proper rest and maintaining good physical condition will help improve the success rate of vaccine immunization.

Observe reactions: Pay attention to your body's reactions after vaccination. If you experience fever, local redness, swelling, or pain, seek medical attention immediately.

VII. Conclusion: Make rabies history

Although rabies is scary, it is not invincible. With the rabies vaccine, a mysterious shield that protects life, we can completely keep it out. Remember, prevention is always the best cure. In daily life, we must raise our awareness of self-protection and avoid contact with wild animals and stray dogs and cats; if bitten or scratched, we must immediately treat the wound and vaccinate; at the same time, we must strengthen the management and vaccination of pet dogs and cats to reduce the risk of human infection.

Let us act together, build an indestructible line of defense with knowledge and action, and make rabies a page in history!