Rabies physical examination

Overview

When a person contracts rabies, they do not show symptoms immediately. The disease take a period of time to manifest in the body which is know as its period of incubation. Once symptoms arise, the patients condition deteriorates rapidly. There is not a great deal of time available to perform a routine physical examination. A patient will most likely present with some severe symptoms that may be misdiagnosed as diseases such as Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Physical Exam

A patient may present with any of the following conditions:

• Psychosis
• Thrashing
• Seizures
• Aphasia
• Muscular twitching
• Restlessness
• Delirium

A patient with rabies may present with difficulty drinking. This is because attempting to drink may cause spasms of the larynx and diaphragm.