Different types of anthrax infection
Anthrax can target various body parts, including:
Cutaneous anthrax – skin is the most commonly affected body part, occurring in about 95 per cent of cases. The skin becomes itchy then develops a sore that turns into a blister. The blister (vesicle) may break and bleed. Within two to seven days, the broken blister becomes a sunken, dark-coloured or black scab
which is usually painless. Without treatment, the infection can spread to the lymph nodes or blood (septicaemia). Death is rare with the right antibiotic treatment. The mortality rate from untreated cutaneous anthrax is 5–20 per cent. Pulmonary anthrax – a rare lung infection that can occur when bacterial spores are inhaled. At first, the infection seems like a mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as a cold or flu. The person’s health rapidly deteriorates over the next few days with severe breathing problems and shock. Without treatment, the mortality rate is 70 to 80 per cent. In many cases, pulmonary anthrax is fatal even when treated. Intestinal anthrax – very rare in developed countries. It occurs if a person eats the undercooked meat of an infected animal, usually one that has died in the field. Early symptoms include nausea, vomiting, vomiting blood, diarrhoea and high temperature. If the infection spreads to the blood (septicaemia), the death rate is between 25 and 60 per cent.
