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Anthrax - Symptom

Alternative Names

Wool sorter's disease; Ragpicker's disease

Symptoms:

Symptoms of anthrax differ depending on the type of anthrax. By type, the symptoms may include:
  • Cutaneous anthrax: Blister or ulcer that later forms a black scab, and is usually surrounded by a lot of swelling
  • Inhalation anthrax: Begins with fever, malaise, headache, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain; shock may occur in the second stage
  • Gastrointestinal anthrax: Nausea and vomiting (the vomit may include blood), anorexia, and bloody diarrhea

Signs and tests:

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

  • If cutaneous anthrax is suspected, you may have a culture of the skin sore to test for the bacteria that causes anthrax.
  • If inhalational anthrax is suspected, you may need a chest x-ray, blood cultures, sputum cultures, spinal tap for CSF culture, or gram stain. Samples may be sent to a special lab for more testing, including PCR, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry.
  • Reviewed last on: 6/8/2007
  • Mark Levin, M.D., Division of Infectious Disease, MacNeal Hospital, Berwyn, IL. 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.160;2002;287:2236-2252.

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