Rabies encephalitis in a preschool child following postexposure prophylaxis

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 Feb 18;15(2):e0009045. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009045. eCollection 2021 Feb.

Abstract

We report a case of rabies encephalitis in a 4½-year-old male child with an exposure to a suspect rabid dog. The child developed rabies 25 days after receiving postexposure prophylaxis. Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) is currently administered according to body weight. In high-risk exposures over the head and neck, local administration of RIG over and above the body weight depending on the site, size, and severity of exposure may help to prevent rabies death. There is a need for further studies to generate new evidence in this regard.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bites and Stings
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dogs
  • Encephalitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Encephalitis / virology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / administration & dosage*
  • Immunoglobulins / therapeutic use*
  • India
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis / methods*
  • Rabies / pathology*
  • Rabies virus

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins

Grants and funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.