AIBU to worry after a possible bat hit my forehead?

[OneQuickCoralQuoter]

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 there was a similar thread recently with lots of stupid comments from posters sprouting false information.

Please seek medical advice.

Fwiw I'd get the rabies treatment jic and I don't have health anxiety.

We absolutely do. Anyone working with them has to have rabies vaccinations.

Yes, but you have no way of knowing.
Rabies is fatal if untreated and the window for successful treatment is small.

Rabies transmission occurs in one of the three following ways;

A bite from an infected animal
A scratch or lick on broken skin from an infected source
Via mucous membranes so if infected saliva touches the moist lining of the eyes, nose, or mouth.

So if the bat hasn't bitten you, scratched you, licked you or drooled in your eye, nose or mouth then you're fine.

We have bats in our shared loft and have had 2 in our flat which we have removed ourselves. Neither of us have rabies.

@OneQuickCoralQuoter

UKHSA’s Rabies and Immunoglobulin Service on tel:0330 128 1020 0330 128 1020; or the local health protection team.

This is who to call. Please do it for proper advice. You're just getting armchair opinions here.

Additionally. The info is to seek medical prompt advice - not wait and see.

Grow up. A bat flew into my face 3 weeks ago. I'm still alive

I would actually get a rabies jab if i was you.
Best to be safe

Why on earth would you say, Grow up?
Your comment is vile.

What did you decide to do OP?

Agree I don't know what has gotten into bats this week; had one in the flat last weekend, no idea how it got in, I opened the window of the balcony and shut the door behind it when it eventually fluttered in and it sorted itself out. But then when I returned to my work digs on Monday there was a dead'un inside the front door. Weird!

I've had a bat fly into my face. It left a "black deposit" behind. This was in Asia about two years ago. I washed off the black stuf and went out to dinner. I'm fine. I can tell you that if you were hit in the face by a bat you'd know it.

Well, you'd feel pretty silly if you didn't get the vaccine, developed rabies, and died, wouldn't you? So on balance, considering it's possible (if unlikely) for bats to carry rabies in the UK, I'd seek professional medical advice.

Well a bat "handler" died in 2002 in the UK. The previous person died in 1902. So it's not impossible but maybe prevented by the vaccine in later years. And it can have quite a long incubation period. After looking up the stuff about rabies, I think I may have been a bit too casual about my Bali bat though I didn't feel any bite or have any obviously broken skin.

You were very lucky.

I’m amazed at the ignorance of UK people. Bats in the UK do carry rabies. It’s just rare to be passed on

OP I had this thought the other night when I bat swooped near my head. I think the risk is vanishingly small and probably one I would take. But if you are worried I would phone 111 and ask as they will have a protocol.

years ago I had to take the rabies injections as a bat in a zoo spat on my foot! And it had a blister. I was out of time pretty much but they gave them to me anyway. I was a wee bit stressed I recall but I’m still here!

Oh and mumofcand - after my bat incident I phoned to ask if zoo’s bats were rabies tested and they said they weren’t. This was in Asia, years ago.

And ignorant.

I don’t think the OP will come back, I don’t believe she came back to any of her other many recent posts where she’s worried about having potentially being bitten by a bat even though she’s never seen one.

so no idea if she’s ever been to a&e, etc for a rabies shot but if so she will be covered as I doubt she needs a rabies injection every week. The dose must last for some time.

OP either has a very specific health anxiety or just likes making weird posts about bats.

I completely agree that it’s possible (though unlikely) for a bat in the uk to have rabies. I agree it’s possible to be bitten or scratched by a bat with no visible puncture mark. But I don’t believe it’s likely that when rootling through stuff in your car if you feel a scratch that it was a bat hiding in your car which you never see either before or after. I find it extremely unlikely that when walking after dark that if an unseen thing flies into you that it was a bat. More likely to be a leaf or bit of rubbish blowing about.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5567904-bat-flew-into-my-hair-aibu-to-seek-further-advice

Bat in the bedroom?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5565202-i-need-to-be-told-im-being-ridiculous-rabies-bats

Just call 111?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5565470-travel-insurance-question-bats-rabies-fun-stuff

bats and travel insurance

This happened to someone I work with and she was told by NHS24 to monitor for signs of rabies!

Yes! Yet another BATSHIT, attention seeking thread!