Anthrax Cutaneous - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Home Remedies
What is Anthrax Cutaneous ?
Anthrax Cutaneous is a skin infection caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, encapsulated, spore-forming bacteria. This disease occurs when the bacteria touches a wound on the skin which will form an ulcer with a black center after about 2 weeks. Normally infections are due to contact with animal products such as wool, hair,bone etc from anthrax affected died animals. If the infection spreads through the blood vessels, the disease may be dangerous. Death happens in rare cases if regular and appropriate medical treatment is not given.
Causes of Anthrax Cutaneous
- The main cause is due to direct contact with infected animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, horses and swine.
- When the bacteria enters a scratched or cut skin is the main reason to spread the disease.
- Another cause is due to contact with contaminated animal products like bones, hair, hide, meat of infected died animals.
- Most infected people include farm workers, veterinarians, and tannery and wool workers.
What are the symptoms of Anthrax Cutaneous ?
- Itchy papules, ulcers with black center surrounding swelling, is the main symptom.
- Development of painful, swollen lymph nodes is another possibility.
- Some common symptoms are headache, fever, difficulty in breathing, cough, flu-like like symptoms, uncomfortable feeling, joint pain, common cold, blood vomiting etc.
Anthrax Cutaneous Treatment
- Antibiotics such as penicillin, ciprofloxacin (Cipro), erythromycin, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol are mainly used to treat anthrax utaneous.
- Oral antibiotics or pills are also recommended in some cases.
- Protective antigens to reduce the effect of anthrax through the patient's protective immune response can be effective in the treatment.
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