Treatment of persons exposed to rabies.

Several clinical and epidemiologic criteria have been formulated by the Center for Disease Control in advising physicians on the treatment of persons exposed to possibly rabit animals. When deciding whether or not to institute rabies prophylaxis, the physician must consider (1) the type of exposure, (2) the animal species involved in the exposure and the regional epidemiology of rabies, (3) the circumstances surrounding the exposure, and (4) the treatment alternatives and complications.