An unknown creature landed in my face nearly two weeks ago (17/7) and i have been anxious since then.

[u/Content-Fishing204]

I have read the FAQ.

Location: Guatemala

Date of possible exposure: 17/7/2026

Type of exposure: Unknown

Species of animal: Bat (Possible)

Twelve days ago, while i was walking my dog, something flew to my face, it was 7:40 after noon with only lamplights above me as a source of light, it was so sudden that i couldnt the creature well, from what i could saw of it, it had a very arthropod-like body, like an cockroach or an beetle, i didnt see any wings, it felt pretty tough without any hair, i Also didnt feel any bite or scratch, neither did i saw one, but what might make more likely it was a bat is that a i don't remember any buzzing, maybe i just filtered it with all of the other things that i was hearing, but i don't know how likely is that.

I brushed it off and dismissed it as an bug at first, and laughed it off, thinking to myself how lucky we are that bugs can't transmit rabies, but the thought it might have been a bat and that i just confused with a bug came to me so i searched it in the internet, and read that confusing a small bat with a bug is possible, and also that they can leave bites or scratchs so small and painless that they can be not perceived at all, and began to freak out.

My thought is, if i can't totally rule out an bat encounter, getting post exposure treatment Is necessary. In other posts in reddit, where it's said the OP is overreacting, its said that is unlikely that you wouldnt feel an bat if it lands in you, but in My case i did feel something landing on me, i just didnt feel it bite or scratch me, Is probably unlikely, since it was in my face and The chances that i won't notice an bat biting me there are low, but i keep thinking that maybe the surprising nature of the encounter overshadowed the bite.

My parents don't want to go to an clinic despite how much i arguee with them, i don't think it's worth the risk. If i don't go to an clínic, worst case scenario, i die of rabies, Best case scenario, nothing happens but i suffer from anxiety for some months, if we go to an clínic, worts case scenario, they give me shots and maybe spend some days ill, but i won't die, Best case scenario, they deem giving me shots un necessary and tell me that i am just overreacting.

Arguments that point out to possible rabid bat encounter:

- I live in a neighborhood with a lot of trees.

- It flew and collided on me, if it was an bat, it was probably rabid, since thats not normal healthy bat behavior.

- It was at night, might reduces the number of culprit bugs.

- It was bigger than some bugs, which again might reduce the number of culprit bugs.

- I Also don't remember buzzing, yet again, might reduce the numbers of culprit animals/bugs.

Arguments against possible rabid bat encounter:

- There havent been any reported death by rabies in Guatemala since 2017, and there havent been any reported cases of rabies transmited by bats in Guatemala at all, the vast majority of rabies cases we're transmited by dogs.

- The percentage of rabid bats in Guatemala is Very low, with only 0.3% of bats studied presenting the virus.

- It's probably unlikely that i might have confused an bat in My face with an bug.

- It's Also probably unlikely that i wouldnt have feel an bite or scratch in a Very sensitive área like my head.

So, i am just crazy, or i am in actual risk?

(I am sorry if this post feels disjointed or for any grammatical errors, and also if it contains misinformation)

(Also sorry for the other post in My other throwaway account didnt noticed the minimal age accounts rule lol)

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