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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:
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6
TwinklyAmberSloth · 09/09/2026 22:28

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

Please do not waste NHS resources by calling 111.

Bats do not fly into people. I go on bat walks and do bat watching. They have outstanding echo location.

It was probably a moth.

MumofCandR · 09/09/2026 22:30

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 09/09/2026 22:27

3 bat threads in what one month ? really

Yes and STILL posters spread mis-information on rabies being nonexistent in the UK and tell posters not to follow the NHS protocol. Unbelievable.

1985goingbackagain · 09/09/2026 22:31

MumofCandR · 09/09/2026 22:27

Captive zoo bats live in closed environments with strict quarantine rules—they don't interact with wild populations, so the exposure risk is virtually zero. Wild bats are completely different.

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Exposure risk is also virtually zero in the OP’s circumstances too - they don’t even know if it was a bat and even if it was there is no reason to think it bit, scratched or managed to spit some saliva in her eyeball…

DramaAlpaca · 09/09/2026 22:31

What a batty thread.

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2026 22:33

Time to bat out of here.

Agapornis · 09/09/2026 22:33

Did you see anything actually coming out of the hedge? Because bats don't roost in hedges. They hang around them to catch insects but don't go in them. Unless it was a hedge mixed with mature trees that have hollow etc for them to roost in? More likely to have been a sparrow, robin etc.

More important - it sounds like it left no marks at all on you. If there are no marks you're safe.

SulkingInTheCatio · 09/09/2026 22:34

Is it the same bat that you think was lurking in your car and may have bitten you even though you had no puncture mark and didn’t see a bat that time either?

You need some help, but not for possible rabies exposure.

PenelopePinkerton · 09/09/2026 22:35

LeaveMeBee · 09/09/2026 22:12

I think the chances are it was a large moth, bats tend to fly higher...I very much doubt it was a bat.

Do some grounding and breathing exercises and a fun or calming activity to help your anxiety!

Bats fly quite low and I have them fly round me almost every evening. I have never been hit by one though.

LBFseBrom · 09/09/2026 22:36

I googled and found this, which surprised me
"You should wash your forehead immediately with soap and water and contact NHS 111 or an urgent GP for a professional risk assessment".

SulkingInTheCatio · 09/09/2026 22:36

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.

Probably because they recognise the OP.

MumofCandR · 09/09/2026 22:38

1985goingbackagain · 09/09/2026 22:31

Exposure risk is also virtually zero in the OP’s circumstances too - they don’t even know if it was a bat and even if it was there is no reason to think it bit, scratched or managed to spit some saliva in her eyeball…

Show quote history

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

TheFishFish · 09/09/2026 22:39

MumofCandR · 09/09/2026 22:28

This is very poor advice. Don't advise if you have no knowledge that's a dangerous thing to do.

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It's really not.

This question is like a child asking if they are going to catch the plague from stroking a hamster.

1985goingbackagain · 09/09/2026 22:43

MumofCandR · 09/09/2026 22:38

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

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How about based on the OP’s own post, bizarre indeed…

”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.”

Coconutter24 · 09/09/2026 22:43

OneQuickCoralQuoter · 09/09/2026 21:48

It may well have been, as I didn’t see what it was for sure, but I don’t usually see birds flying around at this time of the evening so a bat seemed more likely.

Show quote history

It’s possible you disturbed the bird and scared it so it flew away. It may of heard you approaching the hedge.

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

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 09/09/2026 22:44

There was a post about a bat in a car

vodkaredbullgirl · 09/09/2026 22:45

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

😂

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.

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 !

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.

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 🤔😂😂😂🤔

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

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 22:56

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.

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