Can You Test for Rabies After Potential Exposure to a Stray Dog?

Can a person be tested for rabies infection?

I currently live in Yuanlin, Changhua, and recently a stray dog appeared near my home.
I didn't feed it, but it seemed gentle.
One time, I crouched down to pet it, and when I was about to leave, the dog jumped around and used its mouth and paws on my calf.
Later, I noticed three small red spots on my calf that looked like they were scraped.
A few days later, I haven't seen that dog again, and I'm a bit worried about whether I could have contracted a disease.
Can I go to the hospital for testing?

Niming, 20~29 year old female. Ask Date: 2017/09/07

Dr. Liao Yaopan reply Family Medicine

Hello, currently there are no blood tests used in clinical practice to examine the relevant information.
You can refer to the CDC's explanation at http://www.cdc.gov.tw/diseaseinfo.aspx?treeid=8d54c504e820735b&nowtreeid=265391389b8b2287&tid=9D2E1B3A862F06FB.
Changhua Hospital cares about you.

Reply Date: 2017/09/07

More Info

If you have had potential exposure to a stray dog, especially if there is a possibility that the dog could be rabid, it is crucial to take the situation seriously. Rabies is a viral disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is also preventable if treated promptly after exposure.
In your case, since you mentioned that you touched the dog and later noticed small red spots on your leg, it is essential to consider a few factors. First, rabies is transmitted primarily through the saliva of an infected animal, typically through bites. If the dog did not bite you and there was no saliva exposure to an open wound, the risk of rabies transmission is significantly lower. However, if the dog licked your leg and you had any open cuts or abrasions, there could be a risk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that anyone who has had potential exposure to a rabid animal should seek medical advice immediately. This typically involves a thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional, who will assess the risk based on the nature of the exposure, the behavior of the animal, and the rabies vaccination status of the animal if known.
In your situation, it is advisable to visit a healthcare provider as soon as possible. They may recommend post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin (RIG) if they deem the exposure significant enough. The rabies vaccine is highly effective when administered promptly after exposure, ideally within 24 to 48 hours.

As for testing for rabies after exposure, there is no direct test for rabies in humans unless symptoms have developed, which is not the case in your situation. Instead, the focus is on prevention through vaccination. If the stray dog can be captured and observed for signs of rabies, that can also provide some information, but it is not a substitute for receiving the vaccine if you are at risk.

In summary, do not wait to see if symptoms develop. Seek medical attention immediately to discuss your exposure and the potential need for rabies vaccination. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to rabies, as the consequences of a delayed response can be severe.

Similar Q&A

Exposure to COVID-19: Assessing Your Risk After Contact with Positive Cases

Doctor, I would like to inquire about my mother who tested positive in a rapid test. I went to the hospital to register and pick up antiviral medication, and I was surrounded by confirmed cases, standing less than two arm lengths away from them for over an hour. I was wearing a m...

Dr. Lin Zhebin reply Family Medicine
Hello: 1. Risk of infection: This can be discussed in terms of factors that lower and increase the risk of infection: - Factors that lower the risk of infection: You are wearing two layers of masks. - Factors that increase the risk of infection: The distance from confir...

Can You Be Contagious with a Negative Rapid Test Result?

A colleague tested negative on a rapid test yesterday but had some uncomfortable symptoms. They were in the office all day today, and out of concern, I also took a rapid test, which was negative. However, I received a notification in the evening that my colleague tested positive....

Dr. Pan Fengjuan reply Influenza
Hello: "Dr. Lin Jun-you, the Deputy Director of Kaohsiung Municipal Min-Sheng Hospital, stated at a recent Kaohsiung epidemic prevention press conference: 'There are several possible reasons that need to be considered. A negative result may indicate that there is no inf...

Concerns About HIV Exposure After Witnessing an Injury: What to Do?

Hello Doctor: Today, I saw a person on the street with a head wrapped in bandages and blood seeping through. There were two police officers nearby helping him with the bandaging. I didn't want to walk directly past them, so I slightly detoured around. Then I noticed a towel ...

Dr. Ding Shuyan reply Psychiatry
Hello, the routes of HIV transmission and associated risks have been well researched. Firstly, the individual you witnessed must be a positive carrier of the HIV virus, and the viral load in their blood must reach a level that is infectious. Secondly, you must have come into cont...

Concerns About HIV: Should You Get Tested After Possible Exposure?

I have a colleague who has a good friend. This friend was disliked by others and rumors spread that he has HIV. This happened two years ago, but nothing has occurred since then. My colleague had eaten food prepared by this friend, but later he suspected that the rumor was false, ...

Dr. Zhang Chengye reply Urology
Hello: You should come to the hospital for a blood test. This is a response from Dr. Chang Cheng-yeh, attending physician of the Urology Department at Hsinchu Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare.