Anthrax

Introduction: Anthrax

Anthrax: Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in ... more about Anthrax.

Anthrax: A serious infectious bacterial disease that can be fatal. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Anthrax is available below.

Symptoms of Anthrax

• Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax:
  • Raised itchy bump - this gradually becomes an ulcer
  • Skin ulcer - with a central black dying area
• Symptoms of Pulmonary Anthrax:
  • Cold-like symptoms

See full list of 37 symptoms of Anthrax

Medical Textbooks Online about Anthrax

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Anthrax

• Anthrax blood tests
• Skin tests
• Respiratory secretion tests
• Antibody blood test

Read more about tests for Anthrax

Wrongly Diagnosed with Anthrax?

• Misdiagnosis of Anthrax
• Underlying causes of Anthrax (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Causes of Anthrax

Read more about causes of Anthrax.

More information about causes of Anthrax:

• Anthrax as a symptom

Treatments for Anthrax

• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• Doxycycline
• Penicillin
• Multiple antibiotics

Read more about treatments for Anthrax

Videos for Anthrax

Patient Surveys for Anthrax

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Anthrax
  Take Survey  View Results

Reseach about Anthrax

Visit our research pages for current research about Anthrax treatments.

Clinical Trials for Anthrax

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Anthrax include:

• Plasmapheresis of Anthrax-Vaccinated Subjects for Production of Anthrax Immune Globulin - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Anthrax Immune Globulin
• Natural History of Anthrax: a Study of Primary Infected, Recovered, and Exposed Individuals (SPoRE); and Evaluation of AVA-Vaccinated Recipients - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• A New Anthrax Vaccine Administered by the Intramuscular (IM) Route in Healthy Adults - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Trial of rPA-102 Vaccine in Healthy Adult Volunteers - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Anthrax-rPA: Safety, Tolerability, Immunogenicity - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 13 Clinical Trials for Anthrax

Prevention of Anthrax

Prevention information for Anthrax has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Anthrax.

• Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• Doxycycline
• Anthrax vaccine

Read more about prevention of Anthrax

Statistics for Anthrax

• Medical statistics for Anthrax
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Anthrax
• Death and Mortality statistics for Anthrax
• Society statistics for Anthrax

Types of Anthrax

• Cutaneous Anthrax - Usually non-fatal with treatment; about 95% of cases.
• Pulmonary Anthrax - lung anthrax; inhalation anthrax. Can be fatal.
• Gastrointestinal Anthrax - death in 25% to 60% of cases

Read more about Types of Anthrax

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Anthrax, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Anthrax

Anthrax General: DBMD (Excerpt)

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic lower vertebrates (cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and other herbivores), but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals. (Source: excerpt from Anthrax General: DBMD)

Anthrax: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Anthrax is a serious disease caused by anthrax bacteria. Anthrax spores are a form of the bacteria in a hard shell that can occur naturally or be processed as part of a fine, powder-like substance, or in larger clumps. Anthrax is in the news because of the recent cases of disease and deaths caused by the deliberate distribution of anthrax spores through the mail with the intention of harming people. Prior to these recent cases of bioterrorism in the United States, most cases in humans have come from contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the last death from anthrax in the United States before 2001 was in 1976. However, there was a nonfatal case of anthrax reported in 2000 in North Dakota. (Source: excerpt from Anthrax: NWHIC)

Definitions of Anthrax:

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. - (Source - Diseases Database)

A highly infectious animal disease (especially cattle and sheep); it can be transmitted to people - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Anthrax is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Anthrax, or a subtype of Anthrax, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)