Anthrax is caused by a spore-forming bacterium. It mainly affects animals.
Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium known as Bacillusanthracis, a microbe that lives in soil. It is considered a rare but serious bacterial disease. Humans can become infected through contact with an infected animal or by inhaling spores.
Anthrax is most commonly found in the agricultural areas of Central and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Southwestern Asia, Southern and Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean.
It manifests itself in the following ways:
- Cutaneous, which affects the skin.
- By inhalation, which affects the lungs.
- Gastrointestinal, which affects the digestive system.
Symptoms of cutaneous anthrax may include a group of small blisters or a swelling that may itch. Swelling may occur around the boil. A painless skin boil or ulcer with a black center that appears after small blisters or swelling.
Inhalation anthrax is a rare form of classic anthrax presentation associated with direct inhalation of spores into the lungs. There is a potential risk of inhalation of anthrax spores when inhaling or smoking heroin contaminated with anthrax spores.
Treatments:
All types of anthrax infection can be treated with antibiotics, including intravenous antibiotics. Ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and levofloxacin are approved for adults and children.
People who work in places like wool processing plants, slaughterhouses, and tanneries can inhale the spores when in contact with infected animals or animal products from infected animals and can develop pulmonary anthrax.
