• Question: when humans have rabies, do they foam at the mouth? :)

    Asked by lucyvanessax to Donna, Jo, Mark, Stuart, timcraggs on 24 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Donna MacCallum

      Donna MacCallum answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Yes, eventually they do start foaming at the mouth. however, initial symptoms are irritability and headache (me on a monday morning!), pain and itching the bite site, and fever.

    • Photo: Joanna Buckley

      Joanna Buckley answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Well, lucyvanessax, the foaming is caused by hydrophobia, or fear of water. Basically you can’t swallow so saliva builds up in the mouth and appears foamy.

      I guess they would exhibit the same symptoms as animals.

      🙂

    • Photo: Tim Craggs

      Tim Craggs answered on 24 Jun 2010:

      I don’t know, I hope not. I look it up, hang on……

      The production of large quantities of saliva and tears coupled with an inability to speak or swallow are typical during the later stages of the disease

      Not quite foaming at the mouth but pretty nasty nonetheless!

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