Failures of post-exposure rabies prophylaxis.
Rabies remains a public health problem in many emerging countries. Virtually all is known that should enable us to eliminate this scourge by controlling the disease in canine populations and by diligent provision of WHO recommended post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Nevertheless, post-exposure prophylaxis failures do occur. Most common failures are due to deviations from WHO management recommendations and lack of essential biologicals. True failures, where all was done according to WHO recommendations, are fortunately extremely rare. Presented are seven such deaths. Other examples of common management deviations that resulted in deaths are also shown.
Wilde
Henry
H
Infectious Disease Unit, Department of Medicine, Division of Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. wildehenry@yahoo.com
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011818:Rabies / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014944:World Health Organization
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011819:Rabies Vaccines