Inhalation anthrax

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Inhalation Anthrax

Inhalation anthrax

Definition:

Inhalation or respiratory anthrax is an infectious disease caused by breathing in the spores of the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.

Alternative Names:
Anthrax - inhalation
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

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Anthrax commonly affects hoofed animals such as sheep and goats, but humanscanget sick from anthrax, too. Historically, the main risk factor for getting anthrax was some type of contact with contaminated animal hides, hair, bone products, and wool.Inhalation anthrax wasmost commonly contracted when workers breathed in airborne anthrax spores, which were released duringindustrial processes such as tanning hides and processing wool.

Breathing in sporesmeansa person has been exposed to the disease, but it doesn't mean they'll get symptoms. The bacteria spores must "germinate," or sprout ( the same way aseed might before a flower grows) beforethe actual disease occurs. The processcan takeup to 60 days.

Antibiotic therapy following known or suspected exposure can help prevent the disease.

Once the spores germinate, they release of several toxic substances (toxins), whichcause internal bleeding, swelling, and tissue death.

The main form of inhalational anthraxis marked by a bloodyinfection of the lymph nodes in the chest, a condition called hemorrhagic mediastinitis. Up to half of affected individuals may also have a hemorrhagic meningitis.

There are usually two stages of inhalation anthrax:

Stage one can last from hours to a few days. Symptoms may resemble a cold or the flu, and can includefever, headache, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
Stage twooften develops suddenly, and is fatal in up to 90% of individuals, due to a build up of toxins in the body. Shock typically occurs.

References:

Reissman DB, Whitney EA, Taylor TH Jr, et al. One-Year Health Assessment of Adult Survivors of Bacillus anthracis Infection.JAMA. 2004;291:1994-1998.

Inglesby TV, O'Toole T, Henderson DA, et al. Anthrax as a Biological Weapon, 2002. JAMA.160;2002;287:2236-2252.