Yet another phantom bat bite thread

[user1920191]

Hello,

I live in an apartment building in Spain. I've seen bats flying around at night. I sleep with the window open, it's a big door type of windows that covers the entire wall, with a hard curtain down maybe 75% of the way.

Now I woke up one day with a scratch on my thigh, a bit higher than the back of the knee. Looks like a scratch maybe with a puncture also, hard to say. Discovered it as it hurt when I touched it with a towel after showering. The "bite" (see picture below) also burned for a few days, had to get a cream for it to stop. Like I could feel the area being hot. Is that a freaking bat/rabie thing? Idk.

My dumb brain is scared af I got bit by a bat. Now I read everywhere "bats don't bite", "you would wake up", "they can't escape", "if you didn't see a bat it's not a bat bite", "rabid bats can't fly good". I understand the logic of it, but honestly it feels more like wishful thinking to me. Also I understand this fear is probably f**** stupid, the odds don't work: odds the bat comes in, odds the bat don't wake me up, odds the bat bites me, odds I don't wake up on the bite, odds the bite escapes. Means more people would be infected as well. Then again the first CDC link is "you can be bitten when you sleep you wouldn't realize".

So yeah I feel like it sounds quite plausible a bat comes in, bites me on the back of the leg, somehow escapes attracted to the fresh air outside. I also think my fear is related to not understanding how rabies works in bats. Any expert in here? Are all these things true about bats I mention above? How the **** I can't even find scientific papers on bat behavior with rabies. Like would the bat bite me once then f*** off or would keep gnawing at me, FFS I would feel that for sure, wouldn't I? But then I'm not an expert so maybe I'm wrong.

Anyway sorry for the rant, it's really a dumb fear, I understand the odds, but somehow I still think it's very much a possibility. I'm angry at myself for giving in to such an absurd thing. But at the same time I wanna answer all these threads by "how do you know a bat wouldn't bite you and leave without you realizing, where is the data??". ughhh.


PS: I have HA I'm aware, and seeing a specialist. In the meantime, I'm stuck with that BS phobia.
PS2: attached a picture of the thing (roughly 3-4 days later), even tho I know you can't diagnose shit with it, nobody can, but why not.IMG-0972.jpg

[.Poppy.]

My first guess is that it would have been from some kind of insect. I assume you sleep with a blanket, it's doubtful that a bat would have gotten under the covers and bitten you on the leg.

Everything I'm seeing on Google is saying that Spain is really low risk for rabies. Do you have a local health department? You may be able to give them a call and see what they advise. I know in the US having open windows with bats flying around is a much more high-risk activity, but where you are located that is probably not the case.

[user1920191]

No I sleep with no blanket since it's hot. Well that didn't help the anxiety haha. Went to a doctor and they laughed at the idea of rabies but they probably aren't knowledgable about it. Crap should I go somewhere else and ask for the shots? Feels like an overreaction but your comment has me worried.

[.Poppy.]

I'm sorry - I didn't mean to worry you, I still don't think you are at risk. I say sleeping with windows open here in the US is more high risk because we have rabies here. From what I'm reading, Spain doesn't really so it's not something to worry about. If it were of concern where you live, trust me, the doctors would be very aware of it like the doctors are here.

It's worth noting that the rate of rabies in humans here in the US is low. Like, 2-3 people get sick every year about of 300+ million. And our country is known to have rabies in wildlife. In Spain, it sounds like your chance is zero. Again, if it were of concern the doctors would know, but if you have some sort of department of health they would definitely be able to advise you (or, more likely, put your mind at ease by telling you you have nothing to worry about).

I think it's still far more likely to have been an insect bite, especially as you said it was burning.

[user1920191]

Bats definitely have rabies around here so I guess it's a risk like in the US. I'm kinda torn on one hand I get the shot it's done, or I worry about the possibility for X months lol, for something probably f**** stupid.

"Like, 2-3 people get sick every year about of 300+ million. And our country is known to have rabies in wildlife" -> is this because people actually go get shots on suspicion?

[Lolalee1]

1DEEDD23-947B-472B-82A4-8F980102C325.jpg
A lovely Aussie bat.It must be Bat month