Woolsorter's disease; Ragpicker's disease; Cutaneous anthrax; Gastrointestinal anthrax

Symptoms of anthrax differ depending on the type of anthrax.

Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax:

• Blister or ulcer that later forms a black scab
• Blister or ulcer is usually surrounded by a lot of swelling

Symptoms of inhalation anthrax:

• Begins with fever, malaise, headache, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain
• Shock may occur later

Symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax usually develop within one week and can affect the mouth, esophagus, intestines, and colon. Symptoms may include:

• Nausea and vomiting (the vomit may include blood)
• Anemia
• Bloody diarrhea

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

Tests may include:

• Culture of skin sore to test for cutaneous anthrax
• Chest x-ray
• Sputum culture
• Spinal tap to check your spinal fluid for infection (See:CSF culture)
• Gram stain (staining a sample of tissue and looking at it under a microscope for the bacteria that cause anthrax infection)

Tissue or fluid samples may be sent to a special lab for more detailed testing, including immunofluorescence.

Images

Cutaneous anthrax

Inhalation anthrax

Antibodies

Cutaneous Anthrax

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Anthrax Treatment

Review Date: 05/30/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)