A Family Doctor's Tale - ANTHRAX

DOC I HAVE ANTHRAX

Anthrax has been in the news since the September 11 2001 attack on New York.

The spores of the anthrax bacteria can cause serious illness in those exposed to them.

These spores have been sent to people in high positions in letters which when open will expose the spores to these recipients of the letters.

Many postal employees were affected during a spate of terrorist attacks using this method to target the people in high government position.

However the bacterial infection can be cured with ciprofloxacin if detected early.


Anthrax is a disease caused by a gram positive spore forming bacterium that primarily infects mainly animals but can cause serious illness in humans if one is exposed to these spores. It can affect the skin, the intestines or the lungs.

There are  different forms of Anthrax:
1.Cutaneous anthrax is the most common type of anthrax.
It occurs 1-2 days after the skin is scratched and exposed to soil, animal parts or faeces containing the spores.


The affected skin forms an itchy black swelling that becomes a blister that breaks into an ulcer.

The bacteria then enter the bloodstream and cause septicaemia (blood poisoning).


20% of cases will die if they are not treated promptly.

2.Intestinal anthrax happens 2 to 5 days after one eats contaminated meat containing the spores.

The intestinal lining breaks and bleeding occurs.


The victim feels nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever and suffers from severe abdominal pain, bloody vomiting and diarrhoea.


Blood poisoning occurs and the loss of blood can result in shock.
25% to 75% of cases will eventually die.

3.Inhalation anthrax is the least common.
However  it is the most serious form of anthrax because the spores are inhaled into the lungs.

Flu-like symptoms occur for 2 to 3 days with fever, cough and then breathlessness before the lungs starts to bleed internally like a person drowning in his own blood.


Death occurs rapidly most of the time.


This is the type that is used as a biological weapon by terrorists.

Treatment of Anthrax is with antibiotics:
The bacterium is easily killed by several antibiotics (penicillin,tetracycline etc), the most effective one being ciprofloxacin given intravenously or  directly into the bloodstream.


Oral ciprofloxacin is also effective in less severe cases.

There is no need to take antibiotics to prevent anthrax.


Doing so, it can also cause the bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotic and make it more difficult to treat.

A cell-free vaccine has been developed for people who are at risk of contracting anthrax. This vaccine may be mass produced in the future for common use.

Although anthrax is a much feared disease, it can be prevented and treated with careful and alert practices.


Its use as a biological warfare agent is currently very limited with very effective counter measures in place.