Is it necessary to clean the inner part of my nail to prevent rabies after touching a dog's saliva?

Hi doctor,

A street dog's saliva fell on my leg. I unknowingly touched my leg, and after some time, I washed my hands with normal water. But I did not wash the inner part of my nails. My doubts are:

(1) Can rabies virus survive in the inner part of my nail (because the inner part of the nail may not be open to the air or environment), and can this infect my 3-year-old nephew if my hand or nail touches his eye or inner part of his nose or any of his wound repeatedly while playing with him?

(2) Is it necessary to wash the inner part of my nail to prevent rabies infection, or is it not necessary?

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Do you mean to say that the infection of my nephew is not possible in this way? If any rabies virus is left in the inner part of the nail, will it live there and infect the way you described?

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I was afraid because I thought the inner part of the nail was not exposed to the environment, and there might be some rabies virus left. That was the reason for my worry, an expert like you could have only solved it.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

I am asking another question for future incidents, if any. Is there any chance that the rabies virus will remain alive in the inner part of the nail (if not washed) and repeatedly infect when it comes in contact with the eye or nostrils or any wound of a 3-year-old child? If it is not possible, then I will not be worried in the future about such events too. Please help.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Are you saying about an open wound on my hand or on the baby? Do you mean that if the saliva in the inner part of the nail touches a wound on the baby, it is worrisome?

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Does saliva in the inner part of the nail or nail contact the baby's wound? Is it not a matter of concern? Is there any issue if it is unknowingly done more than once? I mean unknowingly from the inner part of the nail and then to the baby's wound more than once.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

Now so many of my wrong concepts are cleared with your counseling. These conversations clearly show that you are a good person and doctor. I am thankful to you.

Hi doctor,

Thanks for the reply.

In the past consultation, you have explained that it is not possible, but I wish to ask if is it not possible even if it is done repeatedly unknowingly. I mean to ask if I touch my mobile phone after touching a suspected dog's saliva and after about 12 hours, the baby gets his eye contact with the mobile phone repeatedly while playing with it, does it carry any risk of rabies? Can rabies virus live inside keypads or mobile phone switches because there is no open air? I also do not remember for how long I kept the mobile in the open air and for how long I kept it in my pocket and below the pillow on the bed.

Hello doctor,

Thank you.

Is there any fear from the described event? As it was more than five days ago, I could not sanitize it till now. Is there any need to sanitize now to get rid of infection due to that described incident?

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the reply.

But the mobile was in touch with my baby's eye on that day. Is there any fear of rabies due to that?