Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh | March 2026: A viral video showing a teenage boy “barking like a dog” in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur triggered widespread concern over possible rabies infection. However, medical evaluation later confirmed that the boy was not suffering from rabies but from a psychiatric condition known as dissociative conversion disorder.
The incident involved a boy from the Kachhwan area of Mirzapur who began exhibiting unusual behavior in mid March 2026, several months after a reported dog bite. According to local reports, the boy displayed symptoms such as barking, fear, agitation, and distress in crowded settings. Family members initially attributed his condition to supernatural causes and took him to a temple for ritual intervention.
The episode at the temple reportedly occurred on March 14, when the boy was taken to a local shrine near Jamua crossroads. Witnesses stated that he became more distressed in the crowd, shouted repeatedly, appeared fearful, and showed excessive salivation. Locals then advised the family to seek medical care instead of ritual practices, and an ambulance was called through emergency services.
Reports also indicate that the boy had complained of severe headache and sudden behavioral changes a day prior to the incident, after which he developed fear responses, including distress in response to stimuli such as water.
Locals intervened and called emergency services, after which the boy was taken to a community health centre and later referred to Banaras Hindu University hospital in Varanasi for further evaluation. Early clinical suspicion included rabies, especially due to the history of incomplete vaccination following the dog bite.
Doctors at Banaras Hindu University conducted detailed clinical and psychiatric assessments. Specialists, including psychiatrist Dr. Shefali Batra, determined that the boy did not have rabies.
Instead, he was diagnosed with Dissociative Conversion Disorder, a condition in which psychological stress or trauma manifests as physical or neurological symptoms. Doctors noted that the boy’s symptoms were associated with fear following the earlier dog bite.
According to medical records shared from the outpatient department (OPD) booklet by Dr. Batra, the patient has been identified as Karan Bhailwal, a 14-year-old male, with documentation dated March 20, 2026.
Medical experts clarified that rabies does not cause patients to bark like animals. Classic symptoms of rabies include fever, neurological dysfunction, agitation, hydrophobia, and difficulty swallowing.
Psychiatrist Dr. Shefali Batra, who was involved in the boy’s care, explained that the symptoms were linked to a trauma driven psychological response on social media.
According to her clinical observations, the boy recalled the earlier dog bite and associated it with widely circulated videos and misconceptions about rabies. This created a psychologically mediated response linked to fear and trauma in which he began imitating behaviors he believed were linked to the infection.
She also noted that exposure to viral content showing similar behavior reinforced the child’s belief about how rabies presents, contributing to the symptom pattern.
She explained that Dissociative Conversion Disorder can present with symptoms that resemble neurological disease, even in the absence of an actual infection. These symptoms occur when psychological distress manifests as physical or neurological signs.
Dr. Batra also noted that the patient has been receiving treatment for anxiety and related symptoms and has shown improvement.
She further highlighted that misinformation, especially through viral content, can influence patient perception and behavior and may delay appropriate medical care.
Reports indicate that the boy received some doses of anti-rabies vaccination after the bite but did not complete the full course. One dose was administered at a private clinic and another at a community health centre, while subsequent doses were missed.
Doctors stated that the boy’s behavior was consistent with a trauma related psychiatric response rather than a viral infection. Following treatment, his condition improved and he was discharged.
Family members also reported that after receiving care at multiple facilities, the child’s condition improved following symptomatic treatment at a government health centre, and he has since shown recovery.
Rabies is a viral infection caused by the Lyssavirus that affects the central nervous system. It spreads primarily through bites or scratches from infected animals such as dogs.
If vaccination is not completed after exposure, the virus can spread to the brain, leading to symptoms such as behavioral changes, anxiety, hydrophobia, and neurological complications.
Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. However, timely post exposure prophylaxis, including wound care and complete vaccination, can prevent the disease.
According to treating doctors and family statements, the boy is recovering with ongoing medical support. His symptoms have reduced following treatment, and he no longer exhibits the earlier abnormal behavior. Reports indicate that he has been discharged and is recovering at home, with only mild residual symptoms such as occasional dizziness.
(Rh/MSM)
