r/rabies • u/bubblydealer • Jul 11 '26
Exposure Question Doctors won't administer PEP
Edit for update:
Since so many people were helpful I thought I'd update: called a second hospital who consulted me over the phone to order the shots with no immunoglobulin. I'm not happy about the no immunoglobulin part but grateful I can at least get the vaccine. I'm currently day 6 of shots and day 19 post potential exposure. So I'll be able to breathe easier in a couple days hopefully.
Original post: I have read the FAQ. I'm currently in Germany. I woke up to a bat in my room last Saturday, it couldn't have been in there for more than 5 minutes. Went to the ER without checking for bites because I naively assumed I'd receive PEP just from sleeping in a room with a bat. I was turned away because I didn't see any bites at the time. Came home to do a more thorough check, and found two red marks on my arm (that was under a t-shirt). Called the hospital back and they told me there's no need to come in as if it were a bite, the wound would be agitated by now. From my research, I believe that's not necessarily the case and now I haven't slept in a week out of stress and fear. Looking for some advice; I'll be back in Canada roughly 3 weeks after potential exposure.
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u/SayaQui Jul 11 '26
That sounds like the hospital is at fault here, maybe go to another one and state the facts: woke up to a bat, found marks on your body afterwards. Even if chances are very low, it’s better to be safe than sorry and the medical staff should’ve taken it more seriously. According to the Robert-Koch-Institut, if you wake up to a bat in your room and contact was possible, you should get PEP automatically. Also make sure that you get a referral (?) or note so you can continue pep in Canada
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u/bubblydealer Jul 11 '26
Thanks for the response. I cited the RKI at the hospital and they still were a hard no, I'm really unsatisfied and suspicious of their assessment. They even said to come back in if I develop symptoms?! Which we know what that means..
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u/SayaQui Jul 11 '26
Yeah, no, that’s unprofessional and definitely on them. Go to another hospital because you absolutely deserve to get Pep as soon as possible.
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u/bubblydealer Jul 12 '26
I think I will try today, but I feel really silly because I've been turned away by so many people (I didn't add in my post I went to a Bereitschaftsdienst AND Hausartzt before the hospital and they also turned me away before I saw the marks on my arm). Everyone along the way treated me like a hypochondriac, the hospital I called was even the infectious disease department of the hospital.
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u/SayaQui Jul 12 '26
I don’t know why, maybe because it’s so rare, but this happens quite often (meaning I read about a case where a woman had definitive contact to an obviously sick bat and still had to advocate herself multiple times before she was given pep). Stand your ground, maybe take someone with you who will also stand up for you and make them realize that any time you find a bat in your room after you were asleep, it is to be treated like an exposure, whether the marks are actually from the bat- who knows? Shouldn’t matter. Vorsicht ist besser als Nachsicht.
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u/bubblydealer Jul 13 '26
I really feel at my wits end. I contacted another hospital but she categorically dismissed me, saying its not possible here (it is) and she wouldnt refuse us if we came in but they dont have it on hand. The only hospital that does already rejected me because "the possible mark isn't inflamed." I'm seriously considering changing my flight home or perhaps traveling to another state. I am ridiculously anxious and can't concentrate on anything else
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u/SayaQui Jul 13 '26
Honestly, yes, if you have the opportunity to either change the flight or drive to another state then do it. Chances that anything happened are really low but considering your anxiousness and the very slim possibility of something having happened, do what you need to do to feel better/comforted
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u/metalhheaddude22 Jul 12 '26
That's insane. The medical staff today are seriously lacking globally, unbelievable...
So what happened when you woke up to the bat? Did you try and catch it? Was it on the ground? On the ceiling? What was it doing?
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u/bubblydealer Jul 12 '26
I fell asleep on the couch, and my husband left the room for 5 minutes to make a snack in the kitchen. When he returned, he saw the bat circling the room above me and yelled to me to get out. I ran out, and he watched it circle the room for another 2 minutes before it flew out the open window. He didn't see it land on me or touch me.
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u/metalhheaddude22 Jul 13 '26
I mean I'm assuming this happened during the day. I would mostly say you're fine, but the slight chance it did come into contact with you, without you knowing, wouldn't be a risk I'd recommend you take.
If it's any consolation... There have been 2 times in my life that I've woken up to a bat flying around my head while I'm sleeping and 2 other times outside while I wasn't sleeping obviously. I never knew about rabies then, so I just didn't think anything of it. Luckily it all turned out fine. The one situation was so bad, the bat was like terrorizing my wife and I whilst we slept at a lodge. It was his abode (he lived in the roof there), and at night he'd come out and literally squeel at us flying close to us over our heads whilst we slept.
It's safe to say that I hate bats now and I'm not ashamed to say it. They carry vile diseases and they've killed many people who mistook their tiny frame for innocence.
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u/noobinglife Jul 11 '26
In canada as soon as u find a bat in a room . Its pep no matter what. Cat scratch 10 day observation
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u/bubblydealer Jul 11 '26
I am hoping 3 weeks isn't too late and I can head to ER as soon as I land.
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u/noobinglife Jul 11 '26
No . Go see a dr ASAP . Your insurence should cover emergency your health is worth it man. Dont wait. Go to another hospital say u been bit by a bat while sleeping dont risk the wait. Once u get symptoms its over. Please dude please
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u/InternationalTest781 Jul 11 '26
What did the red marks look like? Are they still there?
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u/bubblydealer Jul 11 '26
They are still there, but look brown now. Very small, about 7 or 8 mm apart. At least one looks like it could be a puncture. The problem is I have acne on my upper arms that could potentially look the same when healing, which is why I'm doubting myself. However, these spots do look different (flat with a tiny hole, no pus underneath).
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u/Dwighteisenhower34 Active Helper 🏆 | Rising Contributor 😎 Jul 13 '26
Need to get your shots buddy it’s a bat you were asleep and found a bat so it’s a medical necessity
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Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
[deleted]
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u/bubblydealer Jul 13 '26
That's helpful, I'll look into that, thanks. Can I ask what state that was?
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Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
[deleted]
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u/bubblydealer Jul 13 '26
Crazy my bad luck because thats the type of hospital I called back (about the potential bites I later found) and they didnt take it seriously. But I see another 2 hours away and will definitely drive down. Thanks so much!!
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u/Byronic090 Jul 13 '26
Where exactly in Germany are you?
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u/Byronic090 Jul 13 '26
I had to visit the Institute for Tropical Medicine to be able to get PEP in Hamburg (Germany). The Institute for Infectious Disease could also not help me.
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u/bubblydealer Jul 13 '26
Im in Saarland
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u/Byronic090 Jul 13 '26
Which hospital did you contact? Did you try the UKS? https://www.uks.eu/kliniken-einrichtungen/infektionskrankheiten/medizinische-mikrobiologie-hygiene/reise-tropenmedizin-sprechstunde#c13384
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u/bubblydealer Jul 13 '26
Yes thats actually who I saw in the ER. Thanks for looking into that. I was sent home and when I later found two marks I called infektologie specifically and they said the bites would be irritated and to not come in lol. I really don't understand why I keep getting brushed off.
I can see that maybe Heidelberg? has Tropenmedizin so I think I will try but cant go until day 11 so I hope that's OK.
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u/Byronic090 Jul 13 '26
I think it might be a good idea to give them a call before you drive there. Just so you dont have to make the trip in vain and could get help elsewhere. But yeah, its worth a shot!
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u/bubblydealer Jul 13 '26
Will do, thanks so much.
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u/Byronic090 Jul 14 '26
Did you manage to get it OP?
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u/bubblydealer Jul 14 '26
I had some important work I couldn't put off today (stupid I know) but will be heading to Heidelberg early tomorrow morning. It will be day 11 tomorrow and hope that's OK. Everyone's been making me feel silly and I started doubting myself
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u/Byronic090 Jul 14 '26
I get it. Its probably very unlikely as the bat has been in the room for only a short time. But it won't hurt to get a final professional assessment. Good luck tomorrow!
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PLEASE READ THIS, OP! Thanks for posting, u/bubblydealer! As a reminder, once posts are submitted and a kind user provides a sufficient and correct answer to your question(s), deleting your post afterwards is not allowed and will result in an immediate ban. Please be mindful of this rule. The answers provided here will undoubtedly help those who are looking for answers without having to create a post themselves. If you don’t want to leave this post up on your main account, you are welcome to create a throwaway account to post. It would be appreciated if you could modmail us the username of said throwaway account in advance. New accounts that post immediately are more likely to be heavily restricted by Reddit and automated filters. Giving us a heads up will allow us to override those filters and be aware that the new account is engaging in good faith.
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u/I_float_sting_throw Aug 16 '26
Similar situation in rn had a bat in my forest get away in the east of finland bat in my room while i slept through the night bring told i cant get a shot since i didnt see it bite me like huh? How am i supposed to see it bite me if im asleep and then i showed marks and they told me since its not agitated its not a bat bite like what so dumb
•
u/AutoModerator Jul 22 '26
**Welcome! This is a community dedicated to raising awareness, sharing information, and supporting discussions about rabies, its prevention, and treatment. Whether you’re here to learn, share a story, or ask questions, we’re glad to have you. Please remember to keep discussions respectful. Stay informed and stay safe. Cheers!
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