A rare condition caused by a spore-forming bacterium (Bacillus anthracis) is called anthrax. It often negatively affects livestock and wild game. You may become infected with this bacterium through direct or indirect contact with infected animals.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence that anthrax spreads among people, but it may spread to other people through skin lesions. For example, if you come in direct contact with a contaminated object (fomite), you may also get the infection.
In most cases, people get anthrax through a wound or scratch in the skin. Sometimes, you may get this infection by inhaling the spores.
The symptoms appear differently among people with anthrax and may include vomiting, shock, skin sores, and others. Healthcare professionals usually prescribe antibiotics for most anthrax infections. However, if you get this infection by inhaling the spores, the condition becomes more challenging to treat and can be fatal.
While anthrax rarely happens in developed countries, this bacterium remains a concern because it has been used in bioterrorism attacks in the U.S.
Symptoms
The symptoms of this infection are different among people because it has 4 common routes. While most people experience symptoms within 6 days of exposure to the bacterium, others may notice symptoms after 6 weeks.
Cutaneous Anthrax
In such cases, the infection affects the skin. The bacterium often enters the body through a small crack or cut in the skin. It is one of the most common types of anthrax and the mildest form. With early diagnosis and proper treatment, this type of infection is rarely fatal. Check below some symptoms:
- Itchy bumps with a painless sore in the center
- Flu-like symptoms (including fever, headaches, and others)
- Swelling
Gastrointestinal Anthrax
People usually get this type of anthrax by eating undercooked or raw meat from an infected animal. The infection usually affects the gastrointestinal tract from the throat to the colon. Check some symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax below:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal (belly) pain
- Headaches
- Appetite changes
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Swallowing problems
- Swollen neck
- Severe and bloody diarrhea
Inhalation Anthrax
This type of anthrax usually affects people when they inhale spores of the bacteria. Furthermore, this is the deadliest form of anthrax. Check below some symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Flu-like symptoms (such as sore throat, extreme tiredness, muscle aches, and others)
- Chest discomfort
- Coughing up blood
- Nausea
- High fever
- Painful swallowing
- Shock
- Meningitis (rarely)
Injection Anthrax
This new route of anthrax happens mostly in Europe. People develop it when injecting illegal drugs. The primary symptoms include:
- Swelling
- Shock
- Multiple organ failure
- Meningitis
- Redness at the injection site
There are a lot of health conditions that begin with symptoms similar to the flu (such as muscle aches, sore throat, and others). However, there is a small chance these symptoms are caused by anthrax.
If you think you may have been exposed to the bacterium that causes anthrax, immediately visit a doctor. Seek emergency care if you develop symptoms similar to anthrax after exposure to animals or animal products, especially where infection is common.
Causes
The spores of bacteria that cause anthrax are often formed naturally in soil in most parts of the world. In most cases, these spores remain dormant for years until they find their way into a host. The most common hosts include wild or domestic livestock (including cattle, sheep, horses, and goats).
While anthrax appears rarely in the U.S., it is quite common in other areas of the world (including Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, Central and southeastern Asia, Eastern and southern Europe, and the Caribbean).
Commonly, people get this infection when they are exposed to infected animals or eat their meat or hides. For instance, some people have developed anthrax while making traditional African drugs from the skins of infected animals.
Recently, most people who develop anthrax are heroin users in Europe. They get this infection by injecting illegal drugs that come from countries where the infection is common.
Risk Factors
Doctors have identified some factors that could increase your risk of developing the infection. Examples include:
- Military personnel who are deployed in regions where the infection is common
- Work with anthrax in the laboratory
- Exposure to infected animals (the most common cause of anthrax)
- Work in veterinary medicine
- Injecting illegal drugs such as heroin (mostly in Europe)
Complications
People with this condition may develop some life-threatening complications, especially without treatment. For example:
- Sepsis (damage to multiple organ systems)
- Hemorrhagic meningitis (inflammation of the fluid and membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, which often leads to severe bleeding)
- Death
How to Prevent Anthrax?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend some tips that may help prevent this infection. For example:
- Anthrax vaccination
- Treatment with monoclonal antibodies (such as Raxibacumab and Obiltoxaximab)
- Antibiotics should be taken for 60 days. Doctors often recommend Ciprofloxacin, Doxycycline, or Levofloxacin for both children and adults.
Vaccination
The vaccine used to prevent anthrax is not for everyone. While it does not contain live bacteria and cannot cause the infection, it may cause multiple adverse reactions from soreness at the injection site to severe allergic reactions.
In most cases, the vaccine is given to military personnel, but scientists are working on a vaccine for people in other high-risk professions.
In addition, if you live or travel in a country where the infection is common, you should avoid direct contact with livestock and animal skins. Moreover, you should not eat undercooked or raw meat because it may be infected with the anthrax bacterium.
Diagnosis
First, doctors will perform a physical examination to check for abnormalities linked to the infection. Thereafter, they may ask some questions about the symptoms and whether you have been exposed to infected animals. Healthcare professionals may also perform some tests to exclude conditions that cause similar symptoms (such as pneumonia, the flu, also known as influenza, and others). Check below some tests:
- Skin testing – During this test, doctors will get a small amount of fluid from suspicious lesions or sores on the skin and test it in the laboratory.
- Blood test – This test is often performed to check for the anthrax bacterium in the blood.
- Chest X-ray or CT (computerized tomography) scan – Physicians usually perform these imaging tests to check for inhalation anthrax.
- Stool testing – This test is often performed to check for gastrointestinal anthrax.
- Lumbar puncture (also called spinal tap) – During this test, doctors use a specific needle that is inserted into the spinal canal to get a small amount of fluid. This test is often performed when doctors suspect systemic anthrax or meningitis.
Treatment
The primary treatment for people with anthrax is antibiotics and antitoxins (sometimes). The type of antibiotic and the length of the treatment are determined by your doctor because it depends on multiple factors. For example, the type of infection, existing health conditions, your age, and others.
Antitoxin therapies have been developed since the 2001 attacks in the U.S. These include Raxibacumab and Obiltoxaximab. These medications are used to neutralize toxins caused by the infection instead of destroying the bacterium that causes the disease. Doctors may also prescribe anthrax immunoglobulin to eliminate toxins.
Sometimes, anthrax can be treated with surgery to remove the infected tissue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is anthrax man-made or natural?
This is a rare infectious disease that occurs due to a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. It develops naturally around the world in wild and domestic hoofed animals (including sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and cattle).
Is there a vaccine for anthrax?
While all types of anthrax can be treated with antibiotics, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved two vaccines for this infection. These vaccines can be used in people between the ages of 18 to 65.
What happens if anthrax is left untreated?
People with this infection may experience some complications, especially if they do not get treatment. These include meningitis, sepsis, and even death. Ask your healthcare provider if you have additional questions.
