Anthrax
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Definition[edit | edit source]
Anthrax is an acute zoonotic disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, a microbe that lives in the soil.[1]
- A serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis.[2]
- Anthrax can be found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world.[2]
- Rare in the United States - people can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.[2]
- Contact with anthrax can cause severe illness in both humans and animals.[2]
- Anthrax is not contagious, which means you can’t catch it like the cold or flu.[2]
- Anthrax can occur in four forms: cutaneous, inhalation, gastrointestinal, and inhalation.[2]
Clinically Relevant Anatomy[edit | edit source]
Anthrax can affect different body systems, depending on the route of infection. It can affect the integumentary system, gastrointestinal/ digestive system and respiratory system.
Etiology[edit | edit source]
The pathogen that causes Anthrax is a bacterium known as Bacillus anthracis.
Epidemiology[edit | edit source]
Most cases of anthrax are cutaneous (95%); the remaining cases are inhalation (5%) and gastrointestinal (< 1%).[3] Injection Anthrax have only been reported in Northern Europe.[2][4]
Incidence of any anthrax infection has been less than 1 case per year in the US for the last 30 years. From 1955–1994, US cases totaled 235, with 224 cases of cutaneous anthrax, 11 cases of inhalation anthrax, and 20 fatalities.[3]
Anthrax is common in Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Africa, Asia, and Latin America and is rare in Western Europe. In 1958, approximately 100,000 cases of anthrax occurred worldwide. Anthrax is endemic in Africa and Asia despite vaccination programs.[3]
In 1978, during the Rhodesian civil war, failure of veterinary vaccination programs led to a human epidemic, causing 6500 anthrax cases and 100 fatalities.[3]
In October 2001, 22 cases of anthrax infection were identified.[3] Most recently in 2016, in Siberia, Russia, there was an outbreak of anthrax that affected at least 13 Siberian people and killed over 2,000 reindeer.[4]
Risk Factors[edit | edit source]
Occupational hazard for:
- Veterinarians
- Farmers
- Individuals who handle animal wool, hair, hides, or bone meal products.[3]
- Travelers
- Laboratory professionals
- Mail handlers, military personnel, and response workers who may be exposed during a bioterror event involving anthrax spores[2]
There is no racial, sexual, or age predilection for anthrax. However, because anthrax is often related to industrial exposure and farming, the disease most often affects young and middle-aged adults.[3]
Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]
Anthrax can occur in four different forms, depending on the route of infection.
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When the spores get inside the body, from any route mentioned from above, the spores then become anthrax bacteria. Then the bacteria can multiply, spread out in the body, produce toxins (poisons), and cause severe illness. [2]
Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
Clinical manifestations usually happen 1-7 days after exposure from the spores.
Cutaneous Anthrax[edit | edit source]
Small blisters/ bumps
Swelling
Painless skin sore (ulcer), most often the sore will be on the face, neck, arms, or hands[2]
Gastrointestinal Anthrax[edit | edit source]
Fever and chills
Swelling of neck or neck glands
Sore throat
Painful swallowing
Hoarseness
Nausea and vomiting, especially bloody vomiting
Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
Headache
Flushing (red face) and red eyes
Stomach pain
Fainting
Swelling of abdomen (stomach)
Inhalation Anthrax[edit | edit source]
Fever and chills
Chest Discomfort
Shortness of breath
Confusion or dizziness
Cough
Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains
Headache
Sweats (often drenching)
Extreme tiredness
Body aches
Injection Anthrax[edit | edit source]
Injection anthrax has almost the same manifestation as Cutaneous Anthrax except for it could affect deeper structures and can spread more easily.[2]
Fever and chills
A group of small blisters or bumps that may itch, appearing where the drug was injected
A painless skin sore with a black center that appears after the blisters or bumps
Swelling around the sore
Abscesses deep under the skin or in the muscle where the drug was injected
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnosis is made through history-taking for possible exposure, evaluation of signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and laboratory findings.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has resources that can help in diagnosing and investigating anthrax. These are:
Anthrax Case Investigation System
Anthrax Investigation Database
Diagnostic Procedures[edit | edit source]
Outcome Measures[edit | edit source]
Management / Interventions[edit | edit source]
The CDC has a set of guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Anthrax.
Medical Management[edit | edit source]
Antibiotics
Antitoxis
Physiotherapy Management[edit | edit source]
Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
CDC- Anthrax
CDC- Anthrax Resources- for additional readings
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ U.S. National Library of Medicine. National Institute of Health. Medline Plus. Anthrax.http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anthrax.html (accessed 2 March 2011)
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 CDC- Anthrax- Basic Information. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/basics/index.html (Accessed March 30, 2020)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Medscape- Anthrax. Available at https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/212127-overview (Accessed March 31, 2020)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Medicinenet- Anthrax. Available at https://www.medicinenet.com/anthrax/article.htm#anthrax_facts (Accessed March 31, 2020)
