A man from Ilocos Norte lost his life two months after being bitten by a cat, he chose self-medication over consulting a doctor.
The 51-year-old man named Arnel Marcos just washed his wound and poured papaya extract on it. After a few days, he received an anti-rabies vaccine and antibiotics. A month later, he experienced weakness and eventually succumbed to rabies infection.
Ilocos Norte Man Dies of Rabies 2 Months After Bitten by Cat
Ilocos Norte Man Who Chose Self-Medication Passes Away 2 Months After Bitten by Cat
LAOAG CITY – An Ilocos Norte man identified as Arnel Marcos, died of rabies almost two months after being bitten by a cat.
On October 28, 2023, Marcos was bitten by a cat. Despite the severity of the bite, he chose self-medication over consulting a doctor and just washed the wound. He even poured papaya extract on it, delaying proper medical treatment.
The 51-year-old man received his anti-rabies vaccine and antibiotics at a hospital on November 2, 2023.
Unfortunately, a month later, he began experiencing weakness but failed to comply with the scheduled follow-up check-ups after receiving medical treatment at a hospital.
Malou Marcos, Arnel’s wife, noticed her husband’s fear of water and rushed him to the hospital, where they received the bad news that Arnel had contracted rabies. The latter showed symptoms of rabies infection, including fear of water, aggressiveness, and sensitivity to light.
On January 4, 2024 (Thursday), Marcos passed away, and he was laid to rest immediately. Nearly 100 individuals in close contact with Arnel received anti-rabies vaccinations.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported 368 cases of rabies in 2023, which is 6% lower compared to the 391 cases in the previous year.
In a previous incident, a man dies of suspected rabies after he got bitten by dog & eating dog meat
The health department provides guidelines for individuals bitten by animals:
- Clean the wound with a disinfectant such as alcohol or iodine solution.
- Seek immediate medical attention from a healthcare professional.
- Ensure timely administration of anti-rabies vaccination to prevent the development of rabies.
- Monitor the biting animal for any changes in behavior or signs of rabies symptoms for a duration of 14 days.
- If the animal exhibits rabies symptoms, euthanize it and send its head to a laboratory for testing.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the incident:
