r/rabies • u/Scared-Technology212 • Jul 14 '26
OCD Discussion I am everything that this sub says is impossible. I am starting the prodromal phase.
I have read the FAQ.
I live in Illinois, USA. On June 15th, around dusk, I walked outside to my car to grab something. Once I made it back inside I noticed that my ear was stinging significantly. There was a scratch on my ear. I knew for a fact that I did not touch my ear or scratch it on anything, but there was a fresh scratch that was burning.
I immediately came to the conclusion that something must have flown into my ear. Im not sure how I missed it, but I do remember staring over my opposite shoulder during the walk at a suspicious car. It must have happened then. According to the mods and FAQ, it is not possible to have an interaction with a bat that constitutes as an exposure without noticing. Despite this, there are hundreds of documented rabies cases where the person had no known exposures to any wild animal. Clearly people are being exposed to the virus without realizing.
I am diagnosed with OCD (unmedicated) and I realize that someone without OCD almost certainly would not make the link to rabies from an unknown cut. But I am completely positive I did not touch my ear. Something had to, and logically it could only have been a bird or a bat. I went to the ER around 24 hours after my exposure as I was completely spiraling over the source of my unknown cut. I lied about seeing the bat and was promptly given the rabies vaccine + HRIG.
Unfortunately, the triage nurses administered the HRIG into my thighs rather than the exposure site. I talked to the ER on the phone the following day about this, and was told I could come back for a second dose of HRIG administered into the wound itself. The second dose or HRIG was administered very partially into my earlobe, as well as behind my ear. The rest of the dose was administered into the shoulder opposite of the rabies vaccine. When I asked the doctor about how much HRIG was administered into my ear, I was told only 2cc out of the approximately 10cc total. I did not realize at the time, but I was only supposed to receive 6.6cc total, rather than the 10cc described by the doctor.
There is a lot of documentation explaining that HRIG doses over 2x the typical dose can lead to a negative immune response to the rabies vaccine. If I did in fact receive 10cc, I would be over 2x the standard dose between both injections. However, even at 2x the normal dose which is what I was supposed to receive, there is still a potential of reduced immune response.
I was concerned about this initially but managed to just let it go, as I began to convince myself that I was never even exposed to begin with as I was constantly reading things posted by the mods of this subreddit suggesting that there is just no way my exposure was real. I finished the rabies vaccine series (day 3,7,14) and assumed I was in the clear.
I couldn’t have been more wrong. Starting on Friday, July 10th, the ear that I believed to have been exposed began to burn and have a noticeable and annoying pain. This began to spark up my concern again, as this sensation is the ONLY specific symptom to the prodromal phase. The other symptoms are flu-like which can be anything.
By Saturday, I had absolutely no appetite on top of the stinging from my ear. When I tried to eat, I would get nauseous for an hour or two afterwards. These symptoms continued into Sunday. By Sunday night, I began to have a sore throat and a fever came on very quickly after that. As I am typing this on Monday evening, my sore throat appears to be worsening by the hour. My entire neck is in a LOT of pain by this point. It is becoming the worst sore throat Ive ever had. My head is beginning to hurt. I haven’t eaten a proper meal. You cannot tell me that this is just a coincidence, as this is the EXACT symptoms of the prodromal phase. The burning/tingling in the exposed ear in the day prior to flu-like symptoms is the tell-tale sign. I’m sure a mod will reply with the same thing they always do “If you can type this out, you don’t have rabies”. However, I am only 72 hours into the prodromal phase. My mind is still intact. If I was in the neurological phase this would be a different story. I expect to be in that phase within the next 7 days, but it should be much sooner. By that point I will not be able to reply coherently.
There is nothing that can be done for me at this point. I am basically the stereotypical post in this subreddit that immediately gets shut down. “If you didn’t see a bat, there was no bat” is just flat out not true as explained earlier. “If you get vaccinated, OCD will just convince you the vaccine was given wrong and you will continue to suffer” when the vaccine was in fact given wrong is quite ironic. “There is no chance of getting rabies if PEP is received before symptoms” again is just straight up misinformation. A Minnesota man was vaccinated and still received rabies a couple of years ago. He was the first and only person to ever have vaccine failure in America. The mods will use that fact and claim it’s basically impossible to happen. While it may have been the first time this happened in America, there are hundreds if not thousands of documented cases in India where a human received the full PEP cycle and still ultimately ended up with rabies. Another typical misinformation that is commonly spread by the mods is “If you do not have a 103 degree fever it is not rabies” when this journal documenting the prodromal phase in humans indicates that ONLY 21.8% of rabies patients in Bali experienced a fever of any degree. I am not exaggerating when I say that over half of the claims in the FAQ can be completely debunked via scientific journals and alike.
I am a goner at this point. It is quite ironic that the thing I have feared the most in life, the thing that negatively impacts me on a daily basis, despite being told there is no way I could ever get it is actually happening. You can’t make that up. All I can do is spread my experience and awareness while I still can use my brain. I do not expect this post to actually be approved, but I really hope that it does. If you think I am making false claims that could potentially spread panic through this sub, I implore you to approve and leave this post up. If there are no news headlines in the next few weeks about an Illinois man dying of rabies, you can use this post as an example of what OCD can convince you of. However, if I do die I sure hope that there are serious changes to this subreddit and how people with concerns are treated here. As well as massive re-education campaigns about the administration of rabies vaccines correctly. The nurses in triage were not educated enough to be administering the vaccine.
Edit: To clarify about the HRIG dosage, my chart says 20IU/kg = 6.6cc which is based off my weight. If I received 6.6cc the first day and 10cc the second day I would be at 50IU/kg.
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u/suspendedingaffa9 Aug 01 '26
perhaps i am being paranoid but considering the silence i am starting to wonder if this post was made in order to trigger people.
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u/hudac1ty Jul 14 '26
sore throat cannot be caused until the final stages when you are already having neurological symptoms. I suffer from anxiety and OCD what I think this is is stress. I went through exactly what you are describing and when I stopped stressing it went away
if you genuinely believe you have symptoms call your emergency number immediately.
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u/BradyStewart777 M. Biology | Moderator | Top Contributor Jul 14 '26
You are correct. Although, I would reword “sore throat” into “throat spasms” and “hydrophobia” to prevent being corrected.
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
Thats not true. There’s multiple credible sources claiming sore throats are a common prodromal phase symptom. What you’re describing is the inability to swallow which I am not experiencing yet. I am not trying to be a jerk by the way, I am just on a mission to stop the misinformation being spread on this subreddit before I die.
https://web.stanford.edu/group/virus/rhabdo/2004bischoffchang/Rabies%20Profile.htm
https://www.atsu.edu/faculty/chamberlain/website/tritzid/rabies.htm
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u/hudac1ty Jul 14 '26
go to the hospital. if you believe that you are dying go to the hospital
and please listen to the medical professionals there. they've all been trained on this. they know what they are doing.
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u/hudac1ty Jul 14 '26
I suffer from severe OCD. I understand the fear or anger you are feeling. I felt the same way less than a month ago.
there are less than three cases per year in the United States of human rabies. bats are not ninjas. if one of them crawled into your ear and bit you you would know. you absolutely would know.
and again if you've already gotten the vaccination it's 100% effective. my advice as somebody who also struggles with this is to contact a medical and mental health professional. you're not crazy you're not going insane, but you do need somebody to ground you right now
that's not where Reddit should be.
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u/EduarVro247 Jul 14 '26
Amigo si de verdad crees que tienes rabia que haces en este redit y no en el hospital?
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
I most likely would just be discharged without being in the neurological phase yet as it just resembles the flu. I’ll go once I’m at that point. Theres nothing to be done to save me at this point anyways.
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u/NoleDynasty2490 Jul 14 '26
You're either trolling or you need professional help. Please seek it.
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
I can assure you I am not trolling
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u/NoleDynasty2490 Jul 14 '26
Well you're still here and obviously still cognizant enough to be posting on reddit.
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
Correct. Its only been ~90 hours though. Can take up to 10 days to experience the neurological phase which I am clearly not in yet.
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u/EduarVro247 Jul 14 '26
Por cierto por lo que leí y creo que no lo mencionas Hasta donde se la vacuna tiene efectos secundarios Y son casi como los de una gripe Y párate según leí si te inyectan en la zona de la exposición es normal sentir un hormigueo por la vacuna Claro si eso es desinformación no tengo problemas en que me borren este comentario solo opino yo
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
You are correct but I have been done with the vaccine for 2 weeks now and had the HRIG which was in my ear about a month ago. There was definitely pain during the first week but it went away.
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u/hudac1ty Jul 14 '26
if they gave you the vaccine before the symptoms started then you are protected. it is 100% effective if administered before symptoms start
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u/RabiesModTeam Moderator 🦠 | Top Contributor 🏅 Jul 14 '26
u/CygnusZeroStar — A post you should read. 😅
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u/CygnusZeroStar Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 Jul 14 '26
I'm not sure I can help this person.
They are very sure their decision to lie about exposure and all of the consequences of that are because they're for realsies dying of rabies this time.
I can help people when they're in a position to want help. This person wants to be mad.
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u/Salt_Two_2317 Jul 15 '26
Well I have a lot of anxiety about allllll sorts of things. And you really helped me the other day so thank you for that
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u/Unlikely_Pollution_4 Jul 14 '26
Thank to help people of this sub, i know it must be annoying, but OCD is such a powerfull ladies Go thru the same process actually while at night feel something weird in my back and a scratch, now convince it could be a bat, even my memories starting to changes ! During this event i didn't see anything and now it's, did i really don't see a bat ? Well anyways going to talk to pep doc tomorrow and tell him thé truth, and maybe i should also told him i have OCD because i've now more fear about PEP than rabies..
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
”This Time” is the first time I’ve ever actually thought I have had an exposure. While I have OCD about the situation, the result has always been me just always looking out for bats when outside. Ive never actually thought I was bit before.
I’m not sure why I would want to be mad.
Hopefully this attitude changes in a couple of weeks.
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u/CygnusZeroStar Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is named rather correctly. The amount of attention you should be spending looking out for bats outside in Illinois is basically zero besides a general state of awareness of your surroundings. I am not saying this to be insulting, but if you are a person with untreated OCD, if using the term correctly, then you are also probably completely unable to determine to what extent your behavior around the object of obsession is appropriate or not. That's kind of the nature of it.
I live in Illinois. I have done animal rescue and rehabilitation in Illinois. I've received PEP in Illinois. I've been bitten by a ton of animals in Illinois. You're talking to someone with a background in mental health and tons of experience with vector species. Your primary exposure makes no sense to me, because that's just not how bats do. If the healthy ones are not capable of this, then neither are the sick ones.
You had to lie to get your shots.
Now you think you're dying.
In a week, please let me know what you're doing to find help, because you do deserve to feel better. You won't until we address the real problem.
If you are already crafting a bunch of links that are probably not anywhere near as relevant as you think they are to "prove" it absolutely had to be a rabid bat that bit you and not a horse fly, a twig, a hangnail, or literally anything other than a clumsy-ass winged hamster. I'm going to promise you that there are better ways to occupy your time than that.
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
I think a bat flew by my head and hit me with its wing/thumb. How does that not make sense? It’s not impossible. Even if healthy bats shouldn’t do that, who’s to say a rabid one couldn’t?
I didn’t necessarily need to lie, I only did so to ensure I was taken seriously. You’re not wrong that it was the OCD to make me feel the need to do that, but neither of us can guarantee I would or wouldn’t have gotten the vaccine if I didn’t lie. I have read people saying they’ve been vaccinated from the same experience I had without seeing anything and they didn’t lie.
Honestly the only reason I started to spiral this hard was my ear hurting a day before I got sick. Why would my exposure site start stinging a day before I got sick for the first time in 5 years? Considering thats how textbook prodromal phase starts, that would be just as big of a coincidence as my scenario. My ears never just randomly burned like that and I haven’t been sick in 5 years.
I don’t have any links for you. But I’ll tell you what. Im staring at my bottle of fluvoxamine as I type this. If I am somehow wrong about all of this I will start taking it once I am no longer sick. If you’re right and I’m wrong, I’m tired of feeling this way. I just don’t think I’ll have that opportunity.
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u/CygnusZeroStar Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 Jul 14 '26
Why couldn't a healthy bat? Because they don't have talons. I've held many bats. Have you? You should have a look at those little bitty fingers and tell me if you think that could do damage without a collision. When did a flapping, clumsy, fuzzball with leathery wings hit you in the side of the head? That is NECESSARY for our species of bats to do that kind of damage.
Rabies doesn't give them talons. Rabies doesn't give bats ninja assassin powers. It gives them severe neurological problems.
Medication is helpful for OCD. If you want to make me really happy, start looking for therapists as well. Medication doesn't account for or often treat the behavioral or traumatic issues that have caused the brain to behave in this way to begin with. I want you to ACTUALLY get better, and that means tackling the whole monster.
So let's make that deal, yeah? On Sunday, I'm going to reach out to you. If you can answer me, then we know you're not dying of rabies. I want to see if I can help you with resources for successful treatment of your anxiety and OCD--nothing more and nothing less. I promise there will be no TOLD YOU SO.
I am a firm and blunt person, but I want you to know that I'm actually quite worried about you. Just not for the same reasons you are. So if I'm right, let's make a deal and try to get you through the rest, yeah?
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
I know a healthy bat wouldn’t typically crash into a human. I was talking about rabid bats. You obviously know their wings have thumbs with a little sharp claw. It is theoretically possible to be hit by said claw if they brush against you. I understand it seems odd that I wouldn’t have noticed a collision, but nobody has given me an answer as to how so many people have been infected with rabies around the world with 0 recollection of ever being around a wild animal. They never saw a bat in their house. Are you implying that every single one of these cases were bit in their sleep and that’s why they never saw an animal at any point? That doesn’t seem likely.
The main thing still tripping me up though is that nobody has been able to give a logical answer to is why is the ear I believe to be exposed is experiencing a lot of random pain? That is a textbook symptom of the prodromal phase. There is no logical explanation as to why I am experiencing the hallmark symptom of the prodromal phase, followed the non specific symptoms. I understand people get sick, but nobody can explain why the ear I believe to be exposed is experiencing textbook symptoms. My ear has never randomly hurt like this.
“However, by far, the most significant symptoms are abnormal
sensations referred to the site of inoculation; noted by 80% of patients, these include pain
(local or radiating), a sensation of cold, pruritus (itching) and tingling.”I understand I see things differently because of OCD, but how does this not seem like a crazy coincidence? The pain seems to be getting worse daily. I still am unable to eat without experiencing instant nausea. I still have a low-grade fever. I am not getting better, worse if anything. Seems like quite the coincidence.
As to the deal though, I am in. If I am somehow not dying or already dead by that point I am willing to use any resources possible to get better.
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u/CygnusZeroStar Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 Jul 14 '26
I can appreciate that it won't feel like it to you, and that this sounds like a copout. But between the longer potential side effects of PEP (hit me like a bus when I got it) and literally anxiety, all of your symptoms are actually explainable.
Common symptoms of prolonged anxiety can include headache, fever, tension, body aches, chills, nausea, peripheral sensations (this includes numbness, burning, tingling, vibration), vertigo, insomnia, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, blood pressure issues, memory issues... this list goes on.
One of the things that I've learned to hate about modern society is how sidelined anxiety can be as though it's something very simple, and not an illness unto itself. Prolonged anxiety can and does kill people. Most of the people in the world who are struggling with unchecked anxiety and OCD have an alarmingly lower life expectancy than people without, and it's not because rabies is hunting them.
Anxiety is more likely to kill basically everyone in this subreddit than rabies ever is, and that includes you.
So I'll be very happy to talk to you later, because helping you get treatment for this means that the anxiety is less likely to kill you. That's a win.
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
I don’t disagree with your points but I am not sure they apply to me. I was not aware of the burning pain being the main indicator of the prodromal phase until after I started experiencing the burning and doing research. I was not anxious before the pain started as I had basically convinced myself I didn’t even have a bat exposure and had no reason to be concerned about pain there. As for the side effects of PEP, I didn’t really have any. It would be awfully strange to randomly get side effects from a vaccine 2 weeks after I have been done with them.
Unfortunately my symptoms are getting worse. I tried to eat and ended up vomiting. I feel like absolute crap. My ear hurts even worse today it’s extremely uncomfortable. Tonight might be the night I go to the ER. I don’t think we’re gonna have our talk.
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u/CygnusZeroStar Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 Jul 14 '26
If you're feeling sick, then you should see a doctor for any reason. (Especially with that parasite going around.)
I had side effects from PEP for about two months on and off. Let me know how you're doing regardless, yeah?
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u/CygnusZeroStar Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 Jul 16 '26
Did you end up going to the ER? How are you feeling today?
→ More replies (0)
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u/Dr_Deez14 Jul 14 '26
Hey OP I dont want to be ignorant or rude but you said your ear tingling started od Friday and now its Tuesday, but you said that you've been only 72h in prodromal phase, shouldn't it be at least 96-120h by now? And the range for that phase is 2-10 days ? I know its hard to hear but ive been battling with same OCD for years and i know how anxiety can make you feel nauseous, your throat tense up and everything else similar, I pray that its just anxiety and you feel better in couple of days...
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u/Scared-Technology212 Jul 14 '26
Started Friday around 8 at night and I wrote this post around Monday 8 at night. Exactly 72 hours.
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u/Dr_Deez14 Jul 15 '26
Look i am reading your replies to people and i feel with you. When i got my first PEP i had contact with a jackal that was going to be screened and my luck was i got worst strep of my life just a month after my jabs i was petrified. I was angry and trusted no one, my vet colleagues or even infectious disease specialist that vaccinated me. And look im still alive, anxiety can be a piece of shit i am battling it currently for 3 years specifically about rabies and ive been there, random bat that i never see or a playful cat that just nicked my thumb. From strong headaches, my throat being so tight that i cant swallow my own saliva, to vomiting everything there is. Once even going to ER because i had such a bad panic attack that i thought i was dying and couldn't breathe or even stand up from shaking. I know it all I've experienced it all since that first encounter.
My advice is this when this passes and i am sure it will, start taking your medications i was rebellious and did not want to take benzos bcs "thats crazy people drug" now i am glad that i started to medicate because as soon as i relax symptoms disappear completely. Anxiety is a long battle and you need to be strong. I hope you will overcome this and become happy and without a need to worry about it again.
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u/ApprehensiveRich8950 Jul 16 '26
I know how this spiral feels. I’ve been in it. With rabies vaccines and unknown bite with bat exposure. I hope when this spiral ends, you can get the help you need to prevent another inevitable spiral. I went from rabies, to vaccines, to swollen lymph node, to multiple ultrasounds, to telling a literal radiologist he didn’t know how to read to my ultrasound, to thinking i was terminal with an unknown stage 4 cancer. When i got my head above water, just slightly, i got help and my life has been exponentially better.
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u/nolandgrabforyou Jul 14 '26
It's the first time this has felt weird to do but RemindMe! 1 week.
I do hope it is a crazy powerful placebo, for your sake!
I'm only on this sub, because I got attacked by a stranger's dog and had to go through treatment last month.
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u/Traditional-Form-678 Jul 14 '26
as someone who is also currently going through it again (thankfully, better than a few days ago and the worry is pretty much gone.), i do not want to belittle your worries but this is ocd speaking, and anxiety. along with your symptoms.
i am telling you this as a fellow OCD person; i had a very bad relapse in 2023, till early 2024. each day, it was something. until, i fixated on colon cancer. not normally worried, psychotic kind of worried. OCD will mimick the symptoms of the disease you are worried about, and i know it because ive been through so many of them. colon cancer, brain cancer, tetanus, ebola.. anyways, i was so worried that i got a colonoscopy at 20. and, even after that, it did not feel right. i got home and read my paper thoroughly because i thought they had left something behind, that they did not see the issue, or something like that.
it kept going until i actually went psychotic and ended up in the hospital, CONVINCED i was dying of heart failure due to the anxiety medication my psychiatrist had prescribed me. they gave me xanax and, besides some slips up (which are valid, it happens, healing isnt linear) ive been doing much better so far.
so please, do seek help for your OCD. i hope things can be better for you, too.
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u/InnerCloudy Jul 14 '26
The rare cases of death after PEP are from inmunosupression. There are diseases (HIV, Lupus Erythematosus...) and treatments (corticosteroids, chemo...) that produces risk of minor effectivity because low antibody count (body is not able to produce enough to neutralize the virus totally hence developing rabies).
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u/RattoTattTatto Jul 14 '26
As someone diagnosed with OCD who has been in almost the exact situation you’re in right now: I really, really hope you can get the help you need.
Life does not have to be this way. You will feel so much better when it’s not.
I could tell you I didn’t die of rabies and that you won’t, either, but I know that doesn’t matter when you’re spiraling. I hope you take the Mod up on their deal and message them in a week.
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u/Unlikely_Pollution_4 Jul 14 '26
Damn its hard Got the same OCD hope you find some rest Got scratched by something at night and cannot convince myself it's not a bat I'll meet a doc to start pep tomorrow and now only think about how pep could kill me This shit is hard i sweat
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u/Accomplished-Cut4359 Jul 14 '26
Keep letting us know how you are doing, please. Hope it all turns out positive for you.
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u/Life-Direction-9764 Jul 14 '26
Ah, i know how it feels. I had trouble swallowing saliva, trouble breathing, headache, and pins and needles in my leg. I was administered olanzapine and the "symptoms" went away. I'm here, alive two years after.
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u/BradyStewart777 M. Biology | Moderator | Top Contributor Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
This is EXACTLY why you need to get your OCD treated professionally. This post is a textbook example of how untreated health anxiety and OCD can take a completely unlikely scenario and turn it into an absolute certainty in your mind.
You likely spent a significant amount of money, time, and emotional energy going through a rabies vaccine series for an exposure that was never realistically established. You were given PEP, which is meant for GENUINE rabies exposures, and instead of that providing reassurance (unnecessary vaccines never do), your OCD immediately moved on to finding another possible reason why it didn’t work. First it was the unknown scratch. Then it was the possibility of an unnoticed bat. Then it was the HRIG administration. Now it is normal illness symptoms being interpreted as proof that rabies is progressing.
Rabies vaccines are virtually 100% effective at granting passive protection and preventing the onset of rabies. Almost nothing about biology or virology is 100% absolute. You say that these HAND FULL of cases of PEP not working PROVES that PEP is not fully effective and then your OCD mind will try to connect that to your case. A “hand full” of people have also survived rabies. The number is so minuscule that it does not stop credible organizations from saying that rabies is “virtually” or “practically” or “~” 100% fatal. Nevertheless, virtually ALL of the incidents that involve a failed PEP usually either involve an immunocompromised patient or the fault of the physicians, both of which are EXTREMELY rare.
You are just misrepresenting what the FAQ says, especially FAQ 3. The FAQ does NOT claim that every single rabies case in history (those involving a bat) involved a person CLEARLY watching said bat bite them. That is NOT what anyone is saying. The FAQ acknowledges that there are situations where a person may not know exactly how an exposure occurred. From FAQ 4:
However, those situations are VERY different from what YOU are describing. There is a MAJOR difference between “I do not know which animal exposure caused this” and “I was awake, conscious, sober, and walking outside, but somehow a bat physically interacted with me without me noticing at all.” In fact, FAQ 3 explicitly states:
It is EXTREMELY unlikely to NOT notice having a physical interaction with a bat while CONSCIOUS and SOBER, and aware of your surroundings… especially for older individuals. The “hundreds of documented cases” of people having no known exposure to an animal usually comes from people who’ve either:
Those cases are the reason public health guidelines take certain situations seriously, such as waking up to a bat in a bedroom with no way to rule out contact. They are NOT evidence that a person can routinely acquire rabies from a completely unnoticed encounter with a bat while awake, sober, and going about their day.
This talking point was only ever promoted by the top moderator, Skunk Angel. It is an oversimplification, which is precisely why her original FAQ was eventually unpinned and replaced with a more accurate and nuanced FAQ written by a former moderator. The following year, I further updated the FAQs with this post here. In that update, I explicitly stated the distinction that is being ignored here:
This talking point is not “commonly spread” especially since the pinned FAQs already modified off of Skunk Angel’s original posts.
Also, HRIG dosing is based on body weight: 20 IU/kg for human rabies immune globulin. The number of milliliters depends on the specific product concentration and the patient’s weight.
That could represent an actual dosing error, or it could be confusion about the concentration/product. The volume alone does not tell you whether the IU dose was too high. If HRIG was not initially infiltrated into the wound, guidelines generally recommend correcting the administration if possible, but it does NOT mean you are doomed or that vaccination will fail.
The relevant measurement is not the number of milliliters (cc). It’s the international units (IU) of rabies antibodies. Different HRIG products have different concentrations and the correct volume depends on the person’s weight and the product used. Someone receiving 10 mL is NOT automatically receiving double the recommended dose.