The Security Professionals, Inc.

When you need security, you can count on us.

Suspicious Packages | Anthrax | Cholera | Paratyphoid | Smallpox | Typhoid| Biological Diseases Table | Chemical Agents Table

Anthrax

Definition of Medical Terms

ANTHRAX

(Malignant pustule, Malignant edema, Woolsorters’ disease, Ragpickers’ disease)A highly infectious disease of animals, especially cows, either directly or indirectly transmitting their by- products to man.

Anthrax occurs in man externally (on the skin), either as a Malignant pustule or Malignant edema.  It can also occur internally (inside the body), as a pulmonary infection (woolsorters’ disease) or, rarely, as in intestinal disease.

Anthrax can live and thrive outside of the living body. It is resistant to heat, drying and disinfectants other than oxidants, such as:

 In soil, the bacillus (anthrax) may live for 15 years.  Anthrax is infectious for all animals, and is recognized chiefly in goats, cattle, sheep and horses. 

Source of Infection:

The ground where infected animals graze will be highly infected with spores that can be transmitted to man and other animals. Anthrax also may be acquired from feeding on infected carcasses and contaminated foodstuffs.  In animals anthrax takes the form of septicemia and is almost always fatal.

 Anthrax is acquired through broken skin with infected animals or materials, and rarely, by inhaling the spores in dust or ingesting infected meat.  Insects are occasional vectors.  “Industrial” anthrax depends on contact with animal products, e.g.: waste, hide and hair.  “Agricultural” anthrax results from butchering, skinning, or simply handling infected animals and their products.

Signs, Symptoms, and Course (Skin Anthrax)

This most often takes the form of a circumscribed (rounded), Malignant “pustule” or multiple circumscribed pustules.  The unprotected face, neck, arms and hands are the usual sites.

 Initially the lesion may resemble an insect bite.  In a few hours the pustule enlarges and the center (brown in color), is surrounded by a narrow, bright-red ring.

On the 2^nd day, vesicles develop at the periphery (outside) of the papule, which become bluish red, rupture and discharge a serosanguineous fluid. The depressed center may become itchy, but is usually painless prior to turning black.  Adjacent tissues may become progressively and severely infiltrated and swollen.  Swollen and painful glands are present.

The victim may also have nausea, vomiting, headache, joint pains and malaise. Abnormal temperatures of 99 to 102 F may be present.

Treatment:

Antibiotics - The swelling usually disappears in 1 to 5 days.  The lesion generally heals within 2 weeks by sloughing of the black eschar and granulation of the ulcer with residual scarring.

Lung Anthrax

This form, now relatively rare, usually results from inhaling the dust of animal hair containing spores.  Collapse sets in rapidly and is of diagnostic significance.  The picture is that of an overwhelming infection, with prostration, cyanosis, cough, hyperpnea, dyspnea and perhaps high fever.  X-rays of the lung shows patchy infiltration.

 Death often occurs in 18 to 24 hours. When the disease lasts for 4 to 10 days, delirium or coma may dominate the clinical picture.

Treatment:

Pulmonary anthrax can be cured if diagnosis and treatment are prompt. Sputum and throat swabs are taken to identify the spores.

Gastrointestinal Anthrax:

Ingestion of contaminated food causes epidemics of this type of anthrax.  Causes intestinal ulcers with hemorrhages in the heart and brain.  Vomit and fecal swabs are taken to identify the spores.

Treatment:

Antibiotic therapy. Penicillin is the drug of choice.

Information provided by Sharyn M. Davis, RN BS, The Security Professionals, Inc. Health Advisor/Source Merck Manual.

When you need security, you can count on us.