Anthrax

Anthrax is a disease caused by gram-positive (bacteria) named Bacillus anthracis which live in the environmental for long time. Although it is rare, people can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals (sheep, cow, camel, deer, horse, goats, camel etc) or contaminated animal products. Humans can be infected through direct contact or indirectly with a sick animal. Usually anthrax is not transmitted from person to person, but most often cases, the anthrax bacteria enter the body through wounds in the skin. We need to be suspicious if the animals around of us are suddenly died. Because that can be a sign (the farm animals suddenly died).

People who have a high risk of contact with animals for example like veterinarians (people who working in the veterinary clinic), laboratory workers, and people who working in the textile (processing spinning fur or wool). They can get the vaccine. For all, dont forget to wash the hand after contact animals directly.

There are three types of anthrax:

o   cutaneous anthrax

This is the general type which enters the body through wounds in the skin. Cutaneous anthrax is not too dangerous than another type. We can see how the symptoms:

The skin is swollen and fells itchy. The bums is resemble like an insect bite and quickly it would be developed become black-colored

o   gastrointestinal anthrax

This type occurs when people consuming meat which is not mature (not cooked well) from infected animals. The symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax include:

-Nausea,

-Vomiting (which is often accompanied by the blood in the advanced stage of this disease)

- Less of appetite

- Fever

- Bad diarrhea accompanied by blood in the later stage of the disease

- Neck swelling

o   inhalation anthrax

This type happens  if people inhale anthrax spores and this is become the most dangerous type of anthrax. The symptoms of inhalation anthrax are :

-Flu such as sore throat and fever

-Muscle aches feel tired within a few hours or a few days

-The chest feel not comfortable

-Difficulty in breathing

-Shock

-Meningitis (Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord that potentially threat the life)

Treatment

Cutaneous infections treated with injections of penicillin, or tetracycline or erythromycin.

Lung infections are treated with penicillin intravenously. Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation of the lungs.

The treatment can’t be delayed. It must be fast as possible.




Source :

https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthrax

Posted By:
Metin ERBEK