Anthrax

Anthrax is a type of bacteria that lives in the soil and forms spores. You can get infected with anthrax by handling animals or materials contaminated with the bacteria. You can also get infected by breathing the bacteria or spores into your lungs or by eating undercooked meat from infected animals. However, infections are very rare in the US.

There are 3 types of anthrax infections:

• cutaneous, or skin, anthrax
• inhalation anthrax, and
• intestinal anthrax

Cutaneous, or skin, anthrax infections happen when the bacteria enter a cut or scrape in the skin. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that looks like an insect bite. In 1 to 2 days the bump becomes a blister and then a painless open sore. The sore is usually no more than an inch wide, with a black area in the center. Lymph glands near the sore may swell. Treatment of skin anthrax with antibiotics usually cures the infection.

If you breathe anthrax bacteria or spores into your lungs, symptoms of inhalation anthrax may start 1 to 6 days later. The first symptoms are like the symptoms of a cold or flu, such as, fever, tiredness, and cough. The symptoms may get worse quickly. The infection can cause severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax is often fatal if it is not treated before symptoms start.

You can get an anthrax infection in your intestine, or gut, by eating contaminated meat. The first symptoms are nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever. You may have pain in your belly. As the symptoms get worse, you may vomit blood. You may have very bad diarrhea. Intestinal anthrax causes death in many cases, even with treatment.

Being exposed to anthrax does not mean that you will be infected and get sick. If you have anthrax infection or have definitely been exposed to anthrax, you will be treated with antibiotics. Anthrax infections can be fatal if they are not treated early with antibiotics.

There is a vaccine that can help prevent infection with anthrax. The vaccine is recommended only for people who work with animal hides or furs, people who work with animal products that have high rates of anthrax infection, animal doctors who treat animals in foreign countries, people who study anthrax in the lab, and some people in the armed services.

To help avoid getting infected with anthrax, don't eat meat that has not been cooked properly. If there is a threat of bioterrorism, don't handle suspicious letters, packages, or other objects.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File infd4901.htm Release 13/2010