What is the common outcome of untreated rabies infection?

The correct answer is that untreated rabies infection is 100% fatal. Rabies is a viral disease that primarily affects mammals, and once clinical symptoms appear, it progresses rapidly. After an individual is bitten by a rabid animal and the virus enters the body, it travels along the nervous system to the brain. The onset of symptoms such as confusion, aggression, paralysis, and hydrophobia usually occurs within a few weeks to a few months after exposure. Once these symptoms manifest, there is no effective treatment available, and the condition typically leads to death within a few days to weeks.

The 100% fatality rate underscores the critical importance of timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which involves administering rabies vaccine and, if indicated, rabies immunoglobulin to prevent the virus from taking hold in the body. This preventive measure is highly effective when administered before symptoms appear.

Understanding rabies's high fatality rate highlights the urgency of responding to potential exposures and the need for public health education on prevention and treatment. Consequently, knowing that untreated rabies infections lead to death reinforces the necessity for prompt medical attention following any suspected exposure to the virus.