Is Anthrax dangerous!
3 min read
What is Anthrax? Is it dangerous? How do we get infected with it and a lot of other question that it cross our thoughts when we hear about Anthrax.
What is Anthrax?
The history of Anthrax goes back to 1875 when the German physician identified the Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is an infection that is caused by Bacillus anthracis. Infection with Anthrax and symptoms varies by the mode of infection. Usually, symptoms can take from one day to two months to develop. It is most common in Africa and central and southern Asia
What are the symptoms of Anthrax Infections?
There are several types of Anthrax infection
- Skin infection has several symptoms like small blisters with marginal swelling that turns into a painless ulcer with a black center.
- Intestinal infection always presents with diarrhea with our blood in addition to nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort, and pain.
- Inhalation of Anthrax characterized by the respiratory symptom that includes chest pain, shortness of breath in addition to fever.
- Infection by Anthrax injection causes an abscess at the site of injection in addition to fever.
How to get Anthrax infection?
Contacting infected animals is the most common way of Anthrax infection to humans. In addition to that eating and breathing also could be lead to Anthrax infection. It was found that individuals that look after animals are at a higher risk to get the infection. Additionally, frequent travelers, military personnel, and postal workers are among those that have a higher risk of Anthrax infection.
How to diagnose Anthrax?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Anthrax infection could be diagnosed through different tests. It is important that samples should always be taken before starting any antibiotics.
- To measure antibodies or toxin in the blood
- To test directly for Bacillus anthracis in a sample
- Blood
- Skin lesion swab
- Spinal fluid
- Respiratory secretions
How should take the Anthrax vaccine?
It is recommended for those who are at a higher risk of infection to get Anthrax vaccinations. On the other side, animals that live in areas that had a previous infection should be immunized through vaccines. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are two main types of anthrax vaccine for human use:
- Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA), was first licensed in the USA in 1972 and is administered intramuscularly in 5 doses over a period of 18 months.
- Anthrax Vaccine Precipitated (AVP), was first licensed in the UK in 1979 and is administered intramuscularly in 4 doses over a period of 8 months (32 weeks).
What are the approved medications for Anthrax infection?
Several antibiotics could be used for the treatment of anthrax including:
- Ciprofloxacin
- Doxycycline
- Levofloxacin
Additionally, the FDA approved Raxibacumab for the treatment of inhalation anthrax due to Bacillus anthracis in combination with appropriate antibacterial drugs, and for prophylaxis of inhalation anthrax when alternative therapies are not available or are not appropriate.
To conclude, Anthrax infection is a serious infection, but the most fatal and serious type of infection is the inhalation one because inhaled Bacteria migrate to lymph glands in the chest where they proliferate, spread, and produce toxins that often cause death.
