'Was afraid of water': Kabaddi player Brijesh Solanki dies of rabies after ignoring dog bite; experts say skipping vaccine can be fatal

Time of India

a day ago

In a shocking incident, Brijesh Solanki, a 22-year-old state-level Kabaddi player from Uttar Pradesh, reportedly died of rabies weeks after the sportsperson was allegedly bitten by a stray puppy, whom he rescued from a drain. However, he ignored it as a minor injury and did not take the rabies injection. According to ToI, symptoms of the disease started to show up only a few days before Brijesh passed away. Meanwhile, videos of the kabaddi player, shot days before his death, have now gone viral, where him can be seen writhing and howling in pain.
Brijesh Solanki ignored the symptoms of rabies
In the videos, which are now doing the rounds on social media, Brijesh is shown crying in pain and can be seen experiencing a violent rabies attack. According to the report, his coach, Praveen Kumar, said, Brijesh mistook the pain in his arm as a regular kabaddi injury. Solanki thought the bite seemed minor, and he didn't think it was very serious; hence, he did not take the vaccine.
But on June 26, the 22-year-old player complained of numbness during a practice session. This is when he was taken to a district hospital, but his condition worsened with time, and he was moved to a private hospital in Noida as he was denied treatment at several government hospitals.
🚨Trigger: human suffering.In March, Brijesh Solanki, a state level Kabbadi player, was rescuing a puppy from a drain when it bit him. He took it lightly and didn't report. Months later, he developed rabies and died.Mexico faced a major rabies crisis in the 70s-80s, with… pic.twitter.com/9fYmU2w09b
'All of a sudden, he was afraid of water'
The coach goes on to reveal in the report that suddenly, he started getting afraid of water and was showing symptoms of rabies. "All of a sudden, he was afraid of water and was showing symptoms of rabies, but we were denied treatment at government hospitals in Khurja, Aligarh, and even Delhi. It was only in Noida that doctors confirmed he was likely infected with rabies."
Skipping the rabies vaccine after a dog bite can be fatal
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), without prompt rabies vaccination, a dog bite can even lead to death in nearly 100 per cent of untreated cases. 'Failure to receive a timely rabies vaccination after a dog bite can lead to the development of rabies, a potentially fatal disease,' warns Dr. Nasiruddin G, Consultant-Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road.
Dr. Nasiruddin adds, 'The rabies virus travels to the brain, causing severe inflammation and damage.'
How do I know if a dog has rabies? (Early symptoms of rabies)
Rabies can be 100 per cent fatal if the victim is not previously vaccinated. Some of the symptoms of rabies include
Fever
Agitation
Confusion
Aggression
Ultimately leading to paralysis and death.
Timely vaccination is essential to prevent this devastating outcome. 'Prompt medical attention is crucial, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is highly effective in preventing rabies if administered promptly. Delaying or forgoing vaccination significantly increases the risk of developing rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear,' says Dr. Nasiruddin.
What happens if a dog with rabies bites someone?
Rabies is a deadly viral infection that affects the brain and nervous system. Once symptoms appear, rabies becomes life-threatening. 'Even a small scratch or lick on broken skin from an infected dog is known to transmit the virus. Since there's no cure after symptoms start, the only way to prevent rabies is through timely vaccination. So, get vaccinated without fail,' explains Dr Manjusha Agarwal, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine, Gleneagles Hospital Parel, Mumbai.
She says, 'If you're bitten or scratched by a dog, especially a stray or unvaccinated one, you must immediately wash the wound with soap and water and seek medical help. A series of post-exposure rabies shots can protect your life.'
Rabies symptoms are often mild and flu-like. You may feel fever, headache, body aches, or fatigue.' Many people also report discomfort or tingling at the site of the bite or scratch. As the virus spreads to the brain, more serious symptoms develop, such as anxiety, confusion, restlessness, and difficulty swallowing. One classic sign is hydrophobia, a fear or inability to drink water due to painful throat spasms. Some may also experience excessive salivation, aggression, or hallucinations. Eventually, the infection leads to paralysis, coma, and death. That's why early action with the rabies vaccine is crucial.