Question about bats?

Question

we have bats outside our house that come out at night. last night my 6 year old son said he saw one in the hallway, I dont know whether to believe him or not because he does make up stories. at any rate, I could not sleep well thinking there was a bat in our house. then this morning I read that they can bite you while your sleeping at you might not even know it. so now I'm scared thinking what if one of us has rabies. help, any advice is needed, what should I do? would we know if we'd been bitten?

Answer 1

If you have a bat in your house it likely came through the attic.  Check there first for evidence of bats.  If you find it you should contact a professional who knows how to deal with bats.  If you have cats they will sometimes catch bats, bring them in and let them loose.  If no one shows any bite marks you don't have to worry about rabies.  Not all bats carry rabies anyway.

Answer 2

First, call an exterminator. Second, contact your local health department for information about the incidence of bats infected with rabies in your region. Then consult your doctor. Whether to immunize or not is a thorny issue. I do not have prompt access to the most recent Red Book, but the 2000 edition, under the section "exposure Risk and the Decision to Give Immunoprophylaxis [rabies shots] states: "Because the injury inflicted by a bat bite or scratch may be small and not evident or the circumstances of contact may preclude accurate recall, prophylaxis is indicated for situations in which a bat is physically present if a bite or mucous membrane exposure cannot be reliably excluded..." Elsewhere in my book it states that airborne rabies is known to occur in the case of laboratory workers. Most pediatricians have the latest info in the 2006 edition of the Red Book.

Modern rabies shots may be expensive, but are not nearly as painful as with former preparations. Try  to resolve this issue within the next two days. Waiting presents a real risk.