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Monday 18 February 2013

Causes Symptoms and Treatment of Anthrax

Anthrax is an acute disease caused by bacterium bacillus anthracis. Most forms of disease are lethal and affect both humans and animals. There are many effective vaccines to cure the disease, some forms disease responds positively to the antibiotic treatment. Anthrax is also well defined in the ancient time literature of Greeks, romans and Hindu. The earliest description of anthrax is the fifth plague, mentioned in the book of genesis. Anthrax is the life-threatening disease that is more often found in animals. Anthrax is transmitted into humans in contact with animals or their products. Anthrax is a contagious disease that is transmitted from animals to humans, but it does not spread from person to person.


Anthrax in humans is developed in three ways either through skins; which forms ugly sores that usually vanishes without any treatment, carcasses of dead animals that have been contaminated with anthrax and the third and the most deadly form is inhalation of anthrax, inhaled anthrax migrate to lymph glands in the chest where they proliferate, spread, and produce toxins that often cause death. Gastrointestinal anthrax develops when someone eat anthrax tainted meat. Anthrax is commonly found in hoofed animals such as sheep, goat, and cattle and human beings who come in contact with infected animals develop anthrax. Farmers, veterinarians, tannery and wool workers are widely exposed to the disease anthrax.

Symptoms of anthrax depend on the type of anthrax. Symptoms of cutaneous infection are seen within 1 to 7 days of infection.
An itchy sore is developed similar to an insect bite. This sore may blister and forms a black surface.
The sores is generally painless but is surrounded by swelling.
A scab is formed which dries and falls within 2 weeks. Complete healing may require time.

Symptoms of inhalation anthrax include;
Starts with fever, malaise, headache, and cough, shortness of breath and chest pain.
Fever and shock may occur many times.

Symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax start within 1 week and may include;
Abdominal pain
Bloody diarrhea
Diarrhea
Fever
Mouth sores

Nausea and vomiting, vomit may contain blood.
Test and treatment of anthrax also depends upon the type of anthrax and the reason behind it. A culture of skin and may be biopsy are done on the skin sores. The sample is observed through microscope to identify the anthrax germ. Test includes;
Blood culture
Chest CT scan or chest X-ray
Spinal tap to check for infection around the spinal column

Sputum culture
Fluid and blood sample may be sent to special laboratory for more testing, including PCR, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Cutaneous anthrax is easily treated with antibiotics. People suffering from inhalation anthrax have a poor outlook even with antibiotics. Gastrointestinal anthrax may develop bloodstream, and may result in death.

People who have been exposed to the infection but have no symptoms of disease, doctors may prescribe them the some preventive antibiotics depending upon the strain of anthrax like ciprofloxacin, penicillin, and doxycycline.

Call your health care provider if you are exposed to the anthrax and if you develop symptoms of anthrax.

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