COIMBATORE: A 21-year-old college student from Erode died of rabies at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) on Thursday, nearly two weeks after he was bitten by his pet dog.
Though the youth received three doses of the Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV), he allegedly did not take the Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) dose, which is believed to have contributed to his death.
According to hospital sources, the deceased was identified as N Ramesh, a first-year college student of Kanagapuram village near Vellode. He was bitten by his pet dog, which is suspected of having contracted rabies from stray dogs, around two weeks ago. Though Ramesh received three ARV doses at proper intervals, he allegedly failed to take the RIG dose, which is crucial for preventing rabies after exposure.
As his health worsened, Ramesh was referred to CMCH on November 11 from the government hospital in Erode. He received treatment for rabies in the hospital’s dog bite ward but died on Thursday without responding to treatment. As it was a confirmed case of rabies infection, a postmortem examination was not necessary and the body was handed over to the family, CMCH sources said.
Meanwhile, doctors warned that people should seek proper medical attention in case of dog bites, even if they are dealing with a vaccinated pet dog, as neglecting treatment can lead to life-threatening situations.
“If a person has significant (Category III) exposure to a potentially rabid dog, then they can die of rabies if they receive only ARV dose, and fail to get the RIG dose. The vaccine takes time to develop the body’s own protective antibodies, and during the period, the virus can travel to the brain. Hence, immunoglobulin is crucial depending on the severity of dog bites,” said Dr E Raja, medical superintendent of Coimbatore District Governwment Headquarters Hospital.
Dr Raja said the negligence in following the vaccination schedule is a major factor leading to such fatalities. “Many people skip the vaccine schedule, believing there is no risk once the dog is vaccinated. But, even if the dog is vaccinated, it only provides about 60% protection; the remaining responsibility is with us,” he added.