ANTHRAX

Lilia Garbovsky

STRAINS (TYPES)

Cutaneous (skin) Inhalation (lungs) Gastrointestinal (digestive)

CAUSES Bacteria Bacillus anthracis

HOW IS IT SPREAD?

THROUGH ANIMALS Humans can

become infected after handling infected animals

Breathing anthrax spores from infected products (like wool)

Eating undercooked meat from infected animals

(Undercooked meat)

HOW IS IT TRANSMUTABLE? AS A BIOLOGICAL WEAPON Anthrax spores can be distributed Ex. USA 2001, anthrax spores spread through

postal system via letters containing spores

ANTHRAX SPORES

WHO GETS IT?

Animals primarily Common in… South & Central America Southern/Eastern Europe Asia Africa Middle East

ETIOLOGY- THE CAUSE OR ORIGIN OF A DISEASE

INCUBATION PERIOD

symptoms appear within 7 days of initial contact

For inhalation anthrax, anywhere from a week to 60 days

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

CUTANEOUS ANTHRAX

Raised itchy bump (resembles incest bite) 1-2 days, develops into a vesicle (cyst) Develops into painless ulcer (1-3 cm

diameter) Ulcer has black center Swelling of surrounding tissues Swelling of adjacent lymph glands

GASTROINTESTINAL ANTHRAX

Initial signs: nausea Loss of appetite Vomiting blood Sever diarrhea Lesions & soreness in throat Difficulty swallowing Swelling of neck &lymph glands 50% of all patients develop meningitis

INHALATION ANTHRAX Flu/cold like symptoms Cough Chest discomfort Shortness of breath Tiredness & muscle

aches

Meditational widening with inhalation anthrax

DIAGNOSIS Bacterial cultures Measuring specific antibodies in blood Positive cultures are unlikely after antibiotic treatment

has been started

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

-the physiology of abnormal or diseased organisms or their parts

Anthrax is acute (of abrupt onset, of short duration, rapidly progressing & in need of urgent care)

People can’t become immune to anthrax Can get anthrax multiple times

WHAT PARTS OF THE BODY ARE AFFECTED?

In cutaneous anthrax: Skin, surrounding tissues & lymph glands

In gastrointestinal anthrax: Digestive system, neck & lymph glands

In inhalation anthrax: Respiratory & immune system

TREATMENST Anthrax vaccine Avoiding contact w/ animals Don’t eat improperly

slaughtered/cooked meat

FURTHER TREATMENT

Prevention after exposure: Antibiotic & vaccine combo

Treatment after infection: 60 day course of antibiotics

Success depends on type of anthrax & how soon treatment was started

Anthrax is terminal if left untreated