Anthrax

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

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Cutaneous anthrax Cutaneous Anthrax Inhalation Anthrax Antibodies

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Anthrax

Wool sorter's disease; Ragpicker's disease

• Cutaneous anthrax: Blister or ulcer that later forms a black scab; usually has extensive surrounding swelling
• Inhalation anthrax: Initial stage presents with fever, malaise, headache, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain; Shock may occur in the second stage
• Gastrointestinal anthrax: Nausea and vomiting (may include blood), anorexia, and bloody diarrhea

The tests to diagnose anthrax depend on the type of disease suspected.

• If cutaneous anthrax is suspected, a culture of the skin lesion will be done to identify the bacteria that causes anthrax.
• If inhalational anthrax is suspected, a chest X-ray, blood cultures, sputum cultures, spinal tap for CSF culture, and gram stain may be performed. Samples may need to be sent to a special lab for more definitive testing, including PCR, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry.

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.

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