rabies info

[peyt28]

we went camping with our 3 children 2 nights ago. in the middle of the night my husband and i woke up and heard an animal outside crunching on he graham crackers the kids had dropped while  eating smores. he opened up the tent and waved his flashlight around and saw a racoon leaving the site. just a minute later my 3 yr. old daughter sat up and asked for some water. my husband went out and used a cup that had been sitting on the picnic table. now, we don't THINK the racoon went on the table but if he did, drank from the cup AND is rabid what kind of trouble are we in?? my husband rinsed the cup twice before filling it with water for my daughter. i'm a bit of a worrier and this is all i've been able to think about. please let me know what her risk id. by the way, if this makes any difference the temp outside was roughly 39 F. thank you

[cead]

Hi peyt28

I am sorry that your wonderful family time together ended in such distress for you.

First of all, burdzmom, that is not true that you have to have direct contact with the animal.   For example, bats are high rabies carriers and one can get rabies from inhaling the urine fumes in a bat cave.  

Once upon a time and many years ago, I worked with a lot of wild animals.  For my job, I got regular anti-rabies shots (not the same kind your daughter would need).

Bats and racoons are two of the highest risk rabies carriers.  Skunks are also high carriers. Also, one can get rabies from drinking water that a rabid animal has drunk.  You do not have to be bitten by the animal to catch rabies.

I think the key to the animal's health would be the behavior of the animal itself. Was it acting overly agressive or overly timid?  Or just looking for food at an opportune location? There is both the agressive type of rabies but also there is "dumb" rabies where the animal behaves out of character and is very listless or lethargic.  Rabid animals are not always crazy agressive type acting.

The only absolutely positive way to determine if an animal has rabies is by a post mortem examination of their brain.  You did not collect the racoon so that is a mute point now.

Just remember that a ferrel racoon's normal behavior is rather mean when approached.  So, unless it was unusually agressive or unusually listless, I would not worry.  They are normally just not very nice critters when cornered in the wild.

At her age she probably cannot tell you much.  Call her pediatrician on the phone and he can probably advise over the phone.  Rabies shots are horrible to put any child through.  However, they have to be started soon and are too late later.  Your doctor will probably just want you to keep a close eye on her.  

In the old days, the rabies shots were given in the stomach.  Not something that you would want to put any e year old through.  Not sure if medicine has improved in that regard.  Maybe there is something better these days.

Just call the pediatrician right away and don't waste your daughter's valuable time by asking us on this board.

Good luck

Cead

[burdzmom]

i dont think you have any worries at all.  from my knowledge and experience with rabid animals, contact with the animal and human is needed for the passing of the infection.  depending on how long ago this was, your daughter would start displaying aggressive symptoms within 12-24 hours.  vomiting, fever, rash...etc
if you have a concern, i would contact your PCP and let them know the circumstances. They could give you more detailed information.
take care.