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Anthrax
Anthrax
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Definition
Anthrax is an infectious, often fatal, disease associated with animal contact (mostly farm animals) and which, today, is rarely seen in the United States but still exists in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It is a disease of sheep, cattle, horses, goats, and swine. Human infection, though rare, is an occupational disease of farm workers, veterinarians, and tannery and wool workers.
The disease has a skin form (cutaneous anthrax) and a pulmonary form (inhalation anthrax). In the cutaneous form, the infection is transmitted through a break in the skin. After lesions form and the dead tissue and crusts fall off, infection may spread through the bloodstream and cause shock, cyanosis, sweating, and collapse. The incidence is 1 out of 100,000 people.
In the pulmonary form, infection occurs by breathing in anthrax spores. The resultant pneumonia rapidly causes respiratory distress followed by death. Meningitis can also develop. The incidence of inhalation anthrax is very rare.
Because anthrax spores remain infectious for many years, the disease can be picked up from old animal products such as sheep skins, wool blankets, and so on. Because the spores are long lasting and the incubation is short and disability is severe, experimentation with anthrax as a biological weapon has been common.
Prevention
Anthrax in the United States is extremely rare and special precautions are not advised. A vaccine is available for travelers at risk for exposure to animals or animal products in high-incidence countries.
Symptoms - a reddish brown sore that breaks open and forms a
- scab
- fever
- chills
- general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
- headache
- nausea & vomiting
- shortness of breath
- cough
- congestion of the nose and throat
- pneumonia
- chest pain
- joint stiffness
- joint pain
Signs and tests
- blood cultures positive for anthrax
- chest X-ray
- serologic test for anthrax
- spinal tap for CSF culture and analysis
Treatment
The objective of treatment is to cure the infection with antibiotics. Penicillin or tetracycline are used for mild cutaneous disease. Note: tetracycline is usually not prescribed for children until after all their permanent teeth have come in, because it can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming. Penicillin is the usual medication; however, it often must be given intravenously.
Prognosis
Pulmonary and meningeal anthrax are usually (90%) fatal despite antibiotic therapy and intensive care.
Complications
- hemorrhagic meningitis
- mediastinitis
- shock
- scarring at the site of the cutaneous lesion can occur
Calling your health care provider
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop symptoms of this disorder following exposure to animals or animal products.
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