In cutaneous anthrax, skin lesions quickly turn into blisters (vesicles) then form black scabs (eschars). These anthrax lesions show the transition from blisters to eschars. In cutaneous anthrax, a blister (vesicle or bulla) is the first skin lesion. This transient fluid-filled lesion quickly breaks, and then a black scab (eschar) develops at the center within days. This chest X-ray of a patient with inhalational anthrax shows a widened mediastinum (area at the center of the chest near the heart). This radiograph was taken 22 hours before death. Inhalational anthrax causes severe shortness of breath (dyspnea), cough, fever, muscle aches (myalgias), and headache. Gastrointestinal anthrax results in severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, high fever, and vomiting. This type of anthrax is nearly always fatal.
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Anthrax  Information for adults

Picture of Anthrax: In cutaneous anthrax, skin lesions quickly turn into blisters (vesicles) then form black scabs (eschars). These anthrax lesions show the transition from blisters to eschars. Divider line
In cutaneous anthrax, skin lesions quickly turn into blisters (vesicles) then form black scabs (eschars). These anthrax lesions show the transition from blisters to eschars.
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Signs and Symptoms
Cutaneous Anthrax
  • Characteristic rash*
*The characteristic rash of anthrax looks like pink, itchy bumps that occur at the site where B. anthracis comes into contact with scratched or otherwise open skin. The pink bumps progress to blisters, which further progress to open sores with a black base (called an eschar). The early rash (the pink, itchy bumps) looks like many other rashes, so a history of exposure to the bacterium will be important to making the diagnosis. The eschar is more characteristic of anthrax infection, but if diagnosis and treatment are delayed until the eschar appears, the prognosis is poor.


Inhalational Anthrax
Early symptoms:
  • Cold or flu-like illness
  • Fever
  • Aches
  • Sore throat
Later symptoms:
  • Cough
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath

Gastrointestinal Anthrax
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Decreased appetite
  • Diarrhea, usually bloody
  • Abdominal pain
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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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