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Anthrax Research Paper

Decent Essays

Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax can occur in three different forms; skin, inhalation and intestinal. It is spread by contact with the bacteria spores, which are from infectious animal products. Usually contact occurs through breathing, eating or cut and does not spread between people.

Cutaneous Anthrax
Cutaneous anthrax occurs when anthrax is absorbed through the skin. It enters the cut and symptoms will show between two and five days after infection. During this time, anthrax will develop like a boil-like lesion that will have a necrotic center. The boil is usually painless or itchy. Cutaneous anthrax occurs when humans handle infected animals and animal bi-products. There is an anthrax vaccination …show more content…

The symptoms of GI anthrax are vomiting of blood, diarrhea, and loss of appetite and inflammation of the intestinal tract. Additionally, lesions can be found in the mouth, intestinal and throat. Once the anthrax bacteria enter the body through the GI tract, it will spread through the bloodstream and continue to make toxins.

Inhalation Anthrax
Inhalation anthrax occurs when people breathe in the spores of the bacteria. It is usually presented as cold-like symptoms and then pneumonia very quickly. It is very difficult to distinguish pulmonary anthrax from other respiratory illness, as the symptoms are very common.

Use in a military setting
A biological attack using anthrax spores would be delivered by aerosols causing pulmonary anthrax. As stated above, the incubation period is from 2-5 days and the shown symptoms would be very similar to a cold. The victim would demonstrate a non-productive cough and mild chest discomfort. Initially, the symptoms would be mild but after several days they would escalate dramatically. These symptoms would include an edema of the chest wall, pleural effusions and cyanosis. An edema of the chest wall is dangerous because the swelling can burst the pleural effusions and can cause secondary drowning. Cyanosis is when blood without oxygen (deoxyhemoglobin) gathers in the extremities and blood with oxygen focuses on supporting the major organs. Although the symptoms of pulmonary anthrax

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