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Anthrax - Symptom

Alternative Names

Woolsorter's disease; Ragpicker's disease; Cutaneous anthrax; Gastrointestinal anthrax

Symptoms:

Symptoms of anthrax differ depending on the type of anthrax.

Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax start 1 to 7 days after exposure:

  • An itchy sore develops that is similar to an insect bite. This sore may blister and form a black ulcer (sore).
  • The sore is usually painless, but it is often surrounded by swelling.
  • A scab often forms, and then dries and falls off within 2 weeks. Complete healing can take longer.

Symptoms of inhalation anthrax:

  • Begins with fever, malaise, headache, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain
  • Fever and shock may occur later

Symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax usually occur within 1 week and may include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Mouth sores
  • Nausea and vomiting (the vomit may contain blood)

Signs and tests:

The tests to diagnose anthrax depend on the type of disease that is suspected.

A culture of the skin, and maybe a biopsy, are done on the skin sores. The sample is looked at under a microscope to identify the anthrax germ.

Tests may include:

Fluid or blood samples may be sent to a special laboratory for more testing, including PCR, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry.

  • Reviewed last on: 6/9/2011
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Lucey DR, Anthrax. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 317.

Martin GJ, Friedlander Am. Bacillus anthracis (anthrax). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 208.

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.

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