Failure of anti rabies prophylaxis resulting in a case of rabies

Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease responsible for an estimated 59,000 human deaths and over 3.7 million disability-adjusted life years lost every year. Our country is endemic for the disease and every animal bite is suspected to be by a potentially rabid animal. The rate of rabies related death rate is 100% in unvaccinated patients and bites by dogs and cats must be considered as a “medical emergency” and the “life-saving” post exposure prophylaxis must be provided immediately. In the present case report we present a 2.5 yrs old male child with history of dog bite on face and in spite of being given rabies immunoglobulin and post exposure prophylaxis developed Rabies 15 days after the bite and succumbed to his disease.