Anthrax A22-

Includes

infection due to Bacillus anthracis

Clinical Information

An acute infection caused by the spore-forming bacteria bacillus anthracis. It commonly affects hoofed animals such as sheep and goats. Infection in humans often involves the skin (cutaneous anthrax), the lungs (inhalation anthrax), or the gastrointestinal tract. Anthrax is not contagious and can be treated with antibiotics.
An infection caused by bacillus anthracis bacteria. It may affect the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, or skin. Patients with lung infection present with fever, headaches, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath. Patients with gastrointestinal infection present with nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhea. Patients with skin infection develop blisters and ulcers.
Anthrax is a disease caused by bacillus anthracis, a microbe that lives in soil. Many people know about it from the 2001 bioterror attacks. In the attacks, someone purposely spread anthrax through the United States Mail. This killed five people and made 22 sick. Anthrax affects farm animals more often than people. But it can cause three forms of disease in people. They are:
- cutaneous, which affects the skin. People with cuts or open sores can get it if they touch the bacteria.
- inhalation, which affects the lungs. You can get this if you breathe in spores of the bacteria.
- gastrointestinal, which affects the digestive system. You can get it by eating infected meat.
antibiotics often cure anthrax if it is diagnosed early. But many people don’t know they have anthrax until it is too late to treat. A vaccine to prevent anthrax is available for people in the military and others at high risk.
Infectious bacterial zoonotic disease usually acquired by ingestion of bacillus anthracis; marked by hemorrhage and serous effusions in the organs and cavities and symptoms of extreme prostration.

Codes

A22 Anthrax