Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

 

Video details

Please install flash player [ Flash player icon ] to see this video.

Related Content


 

Cutaneous anthrax - Symptom

Alternative Names

Anthrax - skin

Symptoms:

About 2 weeks after infection, an itchy sore develops, similar to an insect bite. This sore may blister and form a black ulcer, which is usually painless. It is usually surrounded by significant swelling. A scab often develops, and then dries and falls off within 2 weeks.

Some patients also have painful lymph nodes, fever, headache, and a general ill-feeling.

Signs and tests:

A culture of the skin lesions should be done to identify the bacteria that causes anthrax.

  • Reviewed last on: 6/29/2007
  • Cyrus Badshah, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine,College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant AttendingPhysician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & MedicalDirector, Chest (TB)Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, HarlemHospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

References

Reissman DB, Whitney EA, Taylor TH Jr, et al. One-Year Health Assessment of Adult Survivors of Bacillus anthracis Infection.  JAMA. 2004;291:1994-1998.

Inglesby TV, O'Toole T, Henderson DA, et al. Anthrax as a Biological Weapon, 2002. JAMA. 2002;287:2236-2252.