After being bitten by a rabid dog, a 4-year-old child is to receive a series of antirabies inoculations. what should the nurse who is to administer the injections recall about rabies?

The nurse should recall that rabies is caused by a viral infection characterized by seizures and difficulty swallowing.

Rabies is caused by a virus that can cause inflammation of the brain in humans and other mammals. Fever, loss of consciousness, seizures and having difficulty swallowing are characteristics of rabies infection. If not treated with the antirabies inoculations, the disease is usually fatal.