The incubation period for rabies in humans—the time from infection to the appearance of symptoms—is typically 1 to 3 months. However, it can range from as short as 4 days to as long as several years, even up to 20 years in extremely rare cases. The variability depends on factors such as the location and severity of the wound, and the amount of virus introduced. Once symptoms appear, the disease usually progresses rapidly to death within about 2 to 10 days, with almost no chance of survival without treatment before symptoms start.
Symptoms often begin with general signs such as fever, headache, and abnormal sensations (tingling or itching) around the wound site. Neurologic symptoms then rapidly worsen, potentially causing anxiety, agitation, hydrophobia (fear of water), paralysis, and eventually coma.
In summary, it usually takes weeks to a few months before rabies symptoms show in humans, but the range can be much broader depending on individual circumstances.
