Choose what you want to read
- What is anthrax?
- How anthrax is acquired?
- What are the symptoms of anthrax?
- How is anthrax diagnosed?
- How is anthrax treated?
- How to prevent anthrax?
What is anthrax?
Anthrax is due to infection by Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming bacterium. Bacillus anthracis is ubiquitous in soil and can infect pets or wild animals. Anthrax occurs in every part of the world. Due to the recent outbreak in the neighboring country of Thailand, the illness has garnered increased interest and awareness among many people. People can acquire anthrax through contact with infected animals and their products, such as hair, wool, meat, or milk. However, this disease does not transmit from person to person.
How anthrax is acquired?
People acquire anthrax when the spores of Bacillus anthracis enter the body. The spores then germinate and multiply, spreading to distant body sites. Moreover, the bacterium produces toxins that cause severe symptoms.
Anthrax can enter the body through breathing, cuts or scratches on the skin, drinking or eating contaminated fluid or food, especially non-pasteurized milk or improperly cooked meat. In addition, people who work with animals or their products are at high risk of anthrax infection.
What are the symptoms of anthrax?
Anthrax is divided into four types, each with different symptoms because the bacterial spores can enter the human body in various ways. The symptoms can be classified as follows:
- Inhalation anthrax is caused by breathing bacteria into the lungs and body. This route is prevalent in those exposed to products of contaminated animals, such as workers in the wool-processing industry and drummers using animal-hide drums. Symptoms of inhalation anthrax include fever, shivering, chest tightness, coughing, headache, vomiting, dizziness, excessive sweating, fatigue, and muscle aches.
- Cutaneous anthrax is often due to contaminated cuts or scratches. The symptom begins with an itchy bump, with swelling around its border. The center of the wound turns black and pitted but painless. These bumps commonly appear on exposed skin of the face, neck, arms, and hands.
- Intestinal anthrax is usually caused by eating improperly cooked food or non-pasteurized milk, especially in countries where there are no routine anthrax vaccinations or livestock inspections for anthrax before slaughter. Affected individuals usually experience fever, shivering, sore throat at night, hoarse voice, neck swelling, enlarged cervical lymph nodes, nausea, and vomiting. Sometimes, vomiting blood, flushed eyes, abdominal pain, headache, diarrhea, passing blood, distended abdomen, and fainting can occur.
- Injection anthrax is rare but reportedly occurs in heroin-injecting drug users. The symptoms include fever, shivering, and abscesses in the injection area. A bump may appear at the injection site and transform into a painless black scab over time, with swelling around the scab. If an injection is deep under the skin, subcutaneous abscesses can develop. Despite a similar appearance to cutaneous anthrax, anthrax bacteria gaining entry via injection can rapidly spread once they enter the bloodstream.
How is anthrax diagnosed?
Doctors will inquire about tell-tale symptoms and assess the risk of anthrax exposure and may obtain an X-ray or CT scan to look for fluid in the lung or mediastinal widening.
To confirm a diagnosis, doctors may test for anthrax antibodies and toxins and test the patient's blood, skin lesions, spinal fluid, phlegm, or fluid in the lungs before administering antibiotics to enhance the chance of detecting anthrax bacteria.
How is anthrax treated?
Anthrax is treatable with antibiotics, such as penicillin, doxycycline, or quinolone. In addition, there are antibiotics with dual antitoxin properties against the toxin of anthrax bacteria, such as clindamycin and linezolid.
Some patients with severe clinical symptoms may require a combination of antibiotics. For example, patients with meningitis will need three antibiotics for adequate treatment.
Doctors can also give monoclonal antibodies and immunoglobulins specific to anthrax to neutralize the anthrax toxins.
Nevertheless, certain patients may still experience severe repercussions from anthrax infection even after the body has eradicated all anthrax bacteria. These patients might need ICU admission or intubation.
How to prevent anthrax?
Avoid sick animals and animal products, such as souvenirs made of their hair or skin. Moreover, it is advisable to refrain from drinking unpasteurized milk or eating potentially contaminated meats, especially improperly cooked ones.
Those exposed to anthrax bacteria without developing symptoms should take doxycycline or quinolone for 60 days for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Is there an anthrax vaccine?
Anthrax vaccines are available for certain high-risk groups, such as military personnel, laboratory workers, or animal handlers. The indications for anthrax vaccines extend to people suspected of exposure to anthrax spores, those with noticeable symptoms, and those confirmed to have anthrax.
If you suspect that you or your pets are at risk of exposure to anthrax, you should see a doctor to report your symptoms.
