Anthrax

Anthrax symptoms can appear anywhere from one day to more than two months after exposure, depending on the type of infection.

Cutaneous anthrax

Cutaneous anthrax is both the most common and least dangerous form of anthrax. Cutaneous means relating to or affecting the skin. Cutaneous anthrax is most often contracted when handling infected animals or animal products, and the spores enter through broken skin. With proper treatment, almost all patients with this type of anthrax survive.

Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax generally appear within one to seven days following exposure. Symptoms can include:

•  skin lesions: these usually appear on the face, neck, arms, or hands
•  swelling
• bumps that may itch.

Inhalation anthrax

Inhalation anthrax is considered to be the most fatal form of anthrax. This infection is contracted by breathing in anthrax spores. People can become infected when working with infected animals or animal products. With proper treatment, about 55% of patients survive.

Symptoms of inhalation anthrax usually start appearing one week following exposure but can take up to two months. Symptoms can include:

•  fever
• cough
• headache
• shortness of breath
• nausea
• fatigue
• body aches
• sweats.

Gastrointestinal anthrax

Gastrointestinal anthrax is contracted through eating raw or undercooked meat from an infected animal. This form is fairly rare but can be fatal. With proper treatment, about 60% of patients survive.

Like cutaneous anthrax, gastrointestinal anthrax symptoms usually appear anywhere from one to seven days following exposure. Symptoms can include:

• fever
• swelling, particularly in the neck and stomach
• sore throat
• nausea
• diarrhoea or bloody stools
• red face and eyes
• stomach pain.

Injection anthrax

Injection anthrax is similar to cutaneous anthrax but has been found in heroin-injecting drug users in Northern Europe.

The symptoms of injection anthrax are similar to those of cutaneous anthrax. They may include:

• fever
• bumps or blisters around the site of injection that may be itchy
• swelling around the sore.

A vaccine is available, but its effectiveness is limited and its protection short-lived. Vaccination is rarely used outside the military. Fortunately, anthrax is rare. However, there are preventative measures you can put in place if you are travelling to at-risk areas, such as:

• avoiding contact with infected animals, livestock, animal products and carcasses
• not eating meat from infected animals or raw or undercooked meat.

Anthrax responds well to treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Individuals with severe infections need to be hospitalised in order to receive adequate treatment.