title: Equine rabies immune globulin: a product with an undeserved poor reputation.
abstract: Four hundred nineteen patients exposed to rabies in Thailand were treated with equine rabies immune globulin (ERIG) manufactured by Sclavo of Italy, a product also licensed in the United States of America. They were followed for a minimum of 1 month after ERIG injection and rabies vaccine administration. Adverse serum sickness-like reactions were noted in 15 patients (3.58%). These were clinically acceptable and only 1 of these patients required corticosteroid therapy and short term hospitalization for serum sickness. ERIG is approximately 1/10 of the cost of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), which is not generally available in developing countries. ERIG is a safe and underutilized essential biological when HRIG is not affordable or available.
authors.affiliation: Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute of the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wilde
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chutivongse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011818:Rabies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011819:Rabies Vaccines