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Rabies exposure
If rabid saliva on someone hands touch my cheek within seconds and I didn't wash it . My cheek had no sratch but I didn't wash my cheek in fear. I had taken booster dose of rabies at that time. It's been 8 month from this incident will I get rabies in future??? I am worried plz help me.and what was tha catagory ? I am worried if the saliva on cheek had gone into eyes.
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No need to worry. Rabies risk is negligible with intact skin. Rabies is a very short course disease, you're fine after 8 months itself proves it didn't had any impact. Stay alert for any future incidents
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Never wait for washing the skin after coming in contact with rabid saliva, the first thing you should do is get your skin washed with soap properly, doesn't matter it is intact or invaded by the bite.
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Don't worry do not panic if there is no contact such as abrasion or scratch if your skin is intact you just have wash it . If you think saliva has gone to your eye is there any symptom such as itching ,redness you can connect to opthalmologist nearby otherwise no problem.
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Hi,
Reviewing your scenario the risk of rabies in future is negligible especially since you have taken a booster.
The virus quickly dies off when exposed to air, sunlight or skin surfaces. As mentioned by you, it is from saliva to hand to cheek (intact surface) and doubtful of it going to the eyes is extremely unlikely of rabies due to two surface exposure and reaching your eyes is virtually zero.
The categories of rabies are three:
Category 1 is touching or feeding animals, licks on intact skin - no treatment is needed.
Category 2 is nibbling on uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding, or exposure to mucous membrane - immediate vaccination and no need of rabies immunoglobulin if previously vaccinated.
Category 3 is single/multiple bites or abrasions with bleeding, saliva into eyes/mouth or open wound - immediate vaccination and rabies immunoglobulin unless recently vaccinated.
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Hi! Don’t worry — from your description, the exposure risk sounds very low, especially since you had already taken a booster dose.
However, to fully assess your situation and exposure category (whether it was Category I, II or III), I’d suggest booking a quick consultation.
That way, I can review your vaccination history, clarify your exact risk, and guide you on whether any further action is needed.
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No, you will NOT get rabies from this incident. You are 100% safe. Please stop worrying — you do not have rabies and you will never get rabies from this event, even after 8 months or 80 years.
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Rabies transmission through intact skin is impossible
Rabies virus DOES NOT penetrate intact skin. Your cheek had no scratch, no cut, no open wound → zero risk, even if fresh rabid saliva was there.
Touching saliva with hands and then touching your face within seconds does not cause rabies
The virus dies extremely quickly when exposed to air and drying. By the time the saliva on someone’s hand touched your cheek (within seconds), the virus was already inactive or dying. This is not a valid mode of transmission.
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Mucous membrane (eye, nose, mouth) exposure is Category II or III only if there is direct lick/bite by a rabid animal.
Indirect transfer via human hand that touched saliva seconds ago is not recognized by WHO, CDC, or Indian guidelines as a valid exposure. Thousands of doctors and vets handle rabid animals daily — none get rabies this way.
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No rabies risk here. Your cheek had no scratch/break in skinârabies transmission requires direct contact with wound or mucous membrane. Simply wash the area with soap and water. No vaccination needed in this case. Your booster dose from 8 months ago remains protective.
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