Disease: Rabies
Type of micro-organism: Virus
Image or diagram: Rabies patient
Transmission of the disease:
Rabies transmission usually begins when infected saliva of an animal is passed to an uninfected animal, through a bite. From the saliva's point of entry, the rabies virus travels along nerve cells to the brain. It multiplies there and moves to the salivary glands. In a rabid animal, the cycle is repeated when the animal bites a person or another animal.
Signs and symptoms:
paralysis, cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, agitation, abnormal behavior, paranoia, terror, hallucinations, progressing to delirium
Prevention and/or treatment:
There is no treatment for rabies that can cure the disease once symptoms appear. Any treatment at that point involves managing symptoms and making the person comfortable (this is called supportive care). Death is almost certain once the rabies symptoms begin.
Reference list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabes
http://rabies.emedtv.com/rabies/rabies-transmission.html
http://rabies.emedtv.com/rabies/rabies-treatment.html
