Resolved question:
I'm wondering if I need a rabies shot. I got licked by a baby raccoon in a spot with no open wounds. I do have eczema though so I have some broken skin on other body parts. I'm worried about what if I touched it later without realizing and then scratched my eczema and "cross contaminated?" I talked to a local nurse hotline and they said it shouldn't be an issue with no bites, scratches, or wounds.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Family Physician-GP
Hello. Thank you for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I understand your concern.
Raccoons do act as a big reservoir of rabies virus, however in your case rabies shot is not necessary. The only way rabies can be transmitted is if there is a bite or a scratch, leading to loss of your mucosal membrane with bleeding. There is almost zero percent chance of spreading it through cross contamination, and that too it will only be there if that particular spot has been exposed to a rabid raccoon bite or scratch. So please do not worry.
Feel free to discuss further,
Regards.
I'm sorry to bother you again, but I'm still anxious. I was put on 10mg prednisone, a corticosteroid, twice a day for an allergic reaction. I've only taken the first two, but the information they gave me said that it weakens your immune system, does that mean I'm more likely to get rabies easier from that situation?
Hello.
No. Two days of Prednisone is not going to significantly affect your immunity. Only long term use can lower your immunity.
You practically have NO chance of acquiring Rabies from that exposure. Please do not worry unnecessarily and do continue the Prednisone as advised.
Feel free to voice your concerns.
Regards.
I just noticed this tiny bump today. I don't know if it was there before, but it's right where I think he would have licked. I'm worried it might have been caused by it somehow, or been a very small open wound/entry point? Do I need to worry about the small bump?
Hello.
I have seen the spot you are referring to and it is unlikely to be caused by the raccoon. If you would have been even bitten in the tiniest bit, the wound be very much visible and inflamed. This is not the case here.
It cannot even act as an entry point because of its size and nature. That bump, is probably just an insect bite occurring later. Exposure of normal, keratinized skin to any tissue, including saliva, does not constitute a rabies exposure.
Because of your anxiety, the maximum we can do in your case is to quarantine the baby raccoon in question, for 10 days. If it develops rabies during this period, then you will need a rabies shot. This is the guideline followed for doubtful exposures.
Regards.