Anthrax is a serious disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis, which can cause infection when people come into direct contact with objects or animals contaminated by the bacteria, when they eat contaminated animal meat or when they inhale spores of this bacterium present in the environment.
Infection with this bacterium is quite serious and can compromise the functioning of the intestines and lungs, which can lead to coma and death within a few days after infection. Due to its toxic action, anthrax can be used as a biological weapon, having already been spread through dust on letters and objects as a form of terrorism.
Main symptoms
Anthrax symptoms vary according to the form of transmission, the person's immune system and the amount of spores the person has come into contact with. The signs and symptoms of the infection can begin to appear about 12 hours to 5 days after exposure to the bacteria, and can cause clinical manifestations according to the form of contagion:
- Cutaneous anthrax: it is the least severe form of the disease, it happens when the person comes in direct contact with the bacteria spores and can be characterized by the appearance of reddish-brown lumps and blisters on the skin that can break and form dark and painful ulcers on the skin. skin, which may be accompanied by swelling, muscle pain, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting.
- Gastrointestinal anthrax: which happens through the ingestion of contaminated animal meat, in which the toxins produced and released by the bacteria cause acute inflammation of this organ, which causes bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever;
- Pulmonary anthrax: it is considered the most serious form of the disease, as the spores lodge in the lungs, compromise breathing and can easily reach the bloodstream, leading to coma or death within 6 days after infection. The initial symptoms are usually similar to the flu, but they progress quickly.
If the bacteria reaches the brain, after reaching the bloodstream, it can cause very serious brain infection and meningitis, which is almost always fatal. In addition, all of these manifestations are very serious and if they are not quickly identified and treated, they can lead to death.
How the transmission happens
Infection with Bacillus anthracis it can happen through contact with objects or animals contaminated with spores of the bacterium, which in most cases are cows, goats and sheep. When the infection happens through contact with spores and leads to the appearance of skin symptoms, the infection can be easily transmitted from person to person.
Other ways of transmitting the disease are through the ingestion of contaminated meat or animal derivatives and through the inhalation of spores, which is the most frequent form of transmission in the case of bioterrorism, for example. These two forms of transmission are not transmitted from person to person, however they are considered more serious, since the bacteria can more easily reach the bloodstream, spread to other parts of the body and cause more serious symptoms.
How the treatment is done
Anthrax infection is treated with the use of antibiotics that should be used according to the guidance of the infectologist and / or general practitioner. In addition, drugs can be recommended to neutralize the action of the toxin produced and released by the bacteria, thus preventing the development of the disease and relieving symptoms.
The anthrax vaccine is not available to the entire population, only to people who have a greater chance of exposure to the bacteria, as is the case with the military and scientists, for example.
Anthrax Prevention
As the spores of this bacterium are not present in the environment, only in reference laboratories for war purposes if necessary, the anthrax vaccine is only available to people considered to be at risk, such as military, scientists, technicians laboratories, employees of textile and veterinary companies.
As the bacteria can also be found in the digestive system or in the hair of animals, one way to prevent infection is by controlling the health of the animals, thereby decreasing the presence of the bacteria in the environment.
In the case of using the Bacillus anthracis as a form of bioterrorism, the best strategy to prevent infection and the development of the disease is vaccination and the use of antibiotics indicated for about 60 days.
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Bibliography
- WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. Anthrax in humans and animals. 2008. Available at:. Accessed on 17 Jul 2019
- MSD MANUAL. Anthrax. Available in: . Accessed on 17 Jul 2019
- BBC BRASIL. Understand what Anthrax is. Available in: . Accessed on 17 Jul 2019
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