Anthrax

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Antibodies

Cutaneous anthrax

Cutaneous Anthrax

Inhalation anthrax

Wool sorter's disease; Ragpicker's disease

• Cutaneous anthrax: Blister or ulcer that later forms a black scab; usually has extensive surrounding swelling
• Inhalation anthrax: Initial stage presents with fever, malaise, headache, cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain; Shock may occur in the second stage
• Gastrointestinal anthrax: Nausea and vomiting (may include blood), anorexia, and bloody diarrhea

The tests to diagnose anthrax depend on the type of disease suspected.

• If cutaneous anthrax is suspected, a culture of the skin lesion will be done to identify the bacteria that causes anthrax.
• If inhalational anthrax is suspected, a chest x-ray, blood cultures, sputum cultures, spinal tap for CSF culture, and gram stain may be performed. Samples may need to be sent to a special lab for more definitive testing, including PCR, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry.

Review Date: 06/17/2005
Reviewed By: Rocio Hurtado, MD, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.