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Inhalation anthrax Causes and Risks:

October 21, 2001

Inhalation anthrax
Causes and Risks:
Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis and is a disease of sheep, cattle, horses, goats, and swine. Human infection is rare, but it is an occupational disease of farm workers, veterinarians, and tannery and wool workers. The disease has a skin form ( cutaneous anthrax ) and a pulmonary (lung) form.

In the pulmonary form, infection is spread by breathing in spores that germinate and cause pneumonia . The pneumonia develops rapidly and leads to progressive respiratory distress. Death can result in less than 48 hours from this type of infection. Meningitis can also develop. The incidence of inhalation anthrax is very rare.

Complications:
* hemorrhagic meningitis
* mediastinitis
* shock
* ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome)

drkoop.com: Conditions And Concerns: Medical Encyclopedia: Inhalation anthrax

Posted October 21, 2001 03:38 PM