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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to worry after a possible bat hit my forehead?

217 replies

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:35

Hi all, this evening I decided to go for a walk as I’m struggling with my MH and anxiety - namely health anxiety. I was walking down a quiet street past a hedge when I felt something impact the side of my forehead. I was confused and thought something had been thrown at me but it appeared something flew off past me very quickly. I didn’t see what it was but due to the time I’m going to guess it was a bat.

My skin has no bleeding or wounds and I don’t think I was bitten or scratched by it.

However, I’m now completely beside myself. Google is telling me to call 111 for rabies advice but I text a few family members about it who seem to think it’s just funny and this is an over reaction, and my partner thinks the same.

i have extreme health anxiety so this is just a complete nightmare to me.

AIBU to panic over this?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Watdidusay · 10/09/2026 00:13

@OneQuickCoralQuoter honestly. Ring 111. They will say go to a&e. A&e will give you a jab. There's no diagnosis or risk discussion to be had so hopefully that reduces any fear of the unknown. Unfortunately it's probably going to result in an a&e wait but that's all.

Brackenandbrave · 09/09/2026 23:58

ShakyBake · 09/09/2026 22:44

I don't know about bats but Jeremy Thompson (class 3b , 1964 when I was 5) got bit by a goat on a school trip and the next day he woke up with a pair of horns and had to take 6 weeks off while they were surgically removed

really? Wow. My old school friend Peter got bitten by a spider once when we were on a school trip to a science lab. He turned a bit weird. Started wearing tights and climbing on the outside of buildings and stuff.

nocoolnamesleft · 09/09/2026 23:43

111 were useless for a recent poster. Have a look at the national advice

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672e187d3b601d048796ae52/UKHSA_13123_Bat_contact___rabies_risks_leaflet_2024_01_WEB.pdf

wldpwr · 09/09/2026 23:42

Burgerboo · 09/09/2026 22:50

My son is an ecologist and did regular bat surveys,he also at times has had health anxiety…this worry was not on his radar !

I imagine he had a rabies vaccination due to the nature or his work.

wldpwr · 09/09/2026 23:39

1985goingbackagain · 09/09/2026 22:24

I’m surprised bat houses are allowed at zoos if they are such lethal creatures as this thread suggests. There are thousands of them in there, flying round all those visitors. There must be multiple crashes into people every day but I’ve never seen mass hysteria about it.

Presumably they know the zoo bats don't have rabies.

LondonLass2026 · 09/09/2026 23:37

Oh not this again!
What is this, the 4th post now? All with slightly different details.

Emma8888 · 09/09/2026 23:37

Had a bat in my house last month. Bat specialist said this is the time of year that juvenile bats are learning to hunt for themselves, and just like teenagers, make dumb choices like going into houses and flying in to people. That’s why a flurry of bat posts - ‘tis the season and all that. He also reassured me that bats don’t target people to bite, and that one flying around is unlikely to be sick - most sick bats will crawl around v flying.

wldpwr · 09/09/2026 23:36

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2026 22:12

She wasn't bitten.

Show quote history

You can't always tell if you've been bitten or scratched. That's why they give rabies vaccinations to anyone who presents after possible physical contact with a bat (yes, really, check the other bat thread!).

LivelyGreyShark · 09/09/2026 23:21

Wasnt this exact same thing posted a few weeks ago? OP only one person in the UK in the last 50 years has caught rabies from a bat and he was a professional bat handler.

Anyahyacinth · 09/09/2026 23:21

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rabies-risks-from-bat-bites/information-for-individuals-who-have-been-bitten-by-a-bat

The facts / advice are here. Contact with a bat even without obvious broken skin is serious. Bat teeth are tiny and do not necessarily leave broken skin.

I don't know whether they roost in hedges, I do know they fly into people because people have filmed them doing such on ring cameras etc...

The guidance is there so you don't need to be told nonsense by online bullies (with little awareness)and people who get a thrill attacking someone whose had a fright 🍀

FROM Government Guidance above:

"Those who need medical advice
You should contact your doctor straight away if you have been bitten or scratched by a bat. Bat bites are often felt and not seen, and may not bleed or leave an obvious mark on the skin.

After contact with a bat, it is important to:

wash the area of any bite or scratch with soap and water immediately
contact a health professional promptly so that they can assess the exposure and arrange post-exposure treatment. Even if you have had rabies vaccine before, it is still important to seek medical advice"

Information for individuals who have been bitten by a bat

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rabies-risks-from-bat-bites/information-for-individuals-who-have-been-bitten-by-a-bat

50Balesofgrey · 09/09/2026 23:12

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:42

I did ask and it’s telling me to call 111 for a rabies assessment which has just made me even worse.

Show quote history

I'd just call really, it's what it's for.

Usefuladvice · 09/09/2026 23:09

MakingLasagne · 09/09/2026 21:42

wtf is going on with all the bat stuff on here?

You'd wonder if it's AI.

2manyEnergyDrinks · 09/09/2026 23:09

Good god, this is at least the 3rd bat related/rabies from a bat bite thread in what a week or so?
Literally bay shit behaviour!!

PollyBell · 09/09/2026 23:06

BlackRowan · 09/09/2026 23:03

Lots of stupid people on here.

first of all there are bats with rabies in the UK
second, bat’s bite is tiny and unnoticeable
third, rabies can be spread by saliva too

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c982m1m95q9o

Or gullible?

TerribleEntrepreneur · 09/09/2026 23:06

This happened to me before and it was a stag beetle. Also happened to a friend of mine at this time of year. They are very big and dark and more likely to fly into you by far than a bat.

BlackRowan · 09/09/2026 23:03

Lots of stupid people on here.

first of all there are bats with rabies in the UK
second, bat’s bite is tiny and unnoticeable
third, rabies can be spread by saliva too

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c982m1m95q9o

BeUmberMember · 09/09/2026 23:01

Probably a young bird learning to fly, It's happened to me. Just shower and wash your hair, worst scenario could be the odd flea from a bat or bird. Dont worry about it.

PollyBell · 09/09/2026 22:58

MumofCandR · 09/09/2026 22:38

Based on what information have you physically assessed her? Bizarre.

Show quote history

Maybe it is the same information for the past 10 or however many bat threads in the last few months, there will be be another next week I presume

Partingofthewaves · 09/09/2026 22:56

TheFishFish · 09/09/2026 22:54

Bats don't just bump into things, they have an excellent ability to avoid things in the dark. OP is assuming it was a bat based on nothing at all.

Even if it was a bat, less than 0.3% of bats in the carry rabies.

Rabies is typically transferred through broken skin, scratches and the like, which the OP doesn't have.

There is no reason, at all, for the OP to be worried about having caught rabies and all people are doing here is fueling someone with an obvious health anxiety.

But sure, see your GP and get the same reassurance, and then seek help for your actual problem.

Edited

Bites aren’t always visible, read the guidance from the NHS above.

TheFishFish · 09/09/2026 22:54

Bats don't just bump into things, they have an excellent ability to avoid things in the dark. OP is assuming it was a bat based on nothing at all.

Even if it was a bat, less than 0.3% of bats in the carry rabies.

Rabies is typically transferred through broken skin, scratches and the like, which the OP doesn't have.

There is no reason, at all, for the OP to be worried about having caught rabies and all people are doing here is fueling someone with an obvious health anxiety.

But sure, see your GP and get the same reassurance, and then seek help for your actual problem.

Partingofthewaves · 09/09/2026 22:53

Letsgocamping67 · 09/09/2026 21:43

Call 111. A lady posted this exact thread a month ago and was eventually prescribed the appropriate medicine albeit after some debate.

Agree.

OP read this
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672e187d3b601d048796ae52/UKHSA_13123_Bat_contact___rabies_risks_leaflet_2024_01_WEB.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672e187d3b601d048796ae52/UKHSA_13123_Bat_contact___rabies_risks_leaflet_2024_01_WEB.pdf

TremendousFlatulence · 09/09/2026 22:53

NotEnoughRoom · 09/09/2026 22:03

If you don’t have any broken skin, then even if it was a rabies-carrying bat, it would be difficult to contract rabies.

i wouldn’t even be worrying about this, but as you are, then give 111 a call. Flowers

Do this. You should have them on speed dial by now anyway 🤔😂😂😂🤔

pepperminticecream · 09/09/2026 22:52

MumofCandR · 09/09/2026 22:11

It's alarming to see people giving 'wait and see' advice on potential bat bites. Here are the facts:

You might not feel or see a bite: Bat teeth and claws are so small that scratches and bites can be virtually invisible.
Rabies is present in UK bats: While terrestrial rabies is gone from the UK, European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV) is present in the UK bat population.
Time matters: Rabies is almost 100% fatal once symptoms start, but entirely preventable if treated promptly.
If you have had potential contact with a bat, do not wait. Contact NHS 111 or your out-of-hours GP service right away to be assessed for urgent vaccination. Wash any potential contact site with soap and water for 5 minutes immediately.

Yes to this. Seek medical care.

Burgerboo · 09/09/2026 22:50

My son is an ecologist and did regular bat surveys,he also at times has had health anxiety…this worry was not on his radar !

silvermoonssparkling · 09/09/2026 22:49

Thing is, if it was a rabid bat then it’s echo location wouldn’t be working anyway!

op, I agree the chances are vanishingly small but if you think it was a bat then you need to report it, saliva is enough to transfer the virus it doesn’t need to be a bite or scratch.

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