September 2012
Case of the Month
- A thirteen year old girl was brought to the hospital with severe headaches, neck pain, vomiting, and agitation.
- The doctor made a tentative diagnosis: encephalitis
- The girl did not remember being bitten by an animal
- Serum and CSF samples were collected for testing
- Test results revealed the girl was positive for Rabies Virus Neutralizing Antibodies (VNA)
- She has never received the rabies vaccination or prophylaxis
- A more detailed history revealed the girl had found a stray dog on her way home and she reported that the dog had licked an open wound
- A diagnosis of rabies was made
Question 1
Zoonotic agents that commonly cause encephalitis or neurological signs in immunocompetent humans include:
(Hint: it's just one!)
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Rabies
- West Nile Virus
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme)
- Toxoplasma gondii
Question 2
The best strategy for preventing rabies cases in humans is...
Question 3
Human cases of rabies in the United States are usually due to bites from what animal? In India?
- Skunks; Dogs
- Dogs; Bats
- Raccoons; Bats
- Bats; Dogs
