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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Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
Your doctor can diagnose anthrax by testing your blood, respiratory secretions, or wounds. The diagnosis may be difficult to make without history of exposure, so be sure to tell your doctor if you think you may have come into contact with B. anthracis or if you meet any of the above risk factors.

Anthrax is treated with common antibiotics. If you have been exposed but are not yet sick, you will get the anthrax vaccine. (This vaccine is available only to people in the military, people who work with B. anthracis, and people who have been exposed to B. anthracis.) If you are infected, you will take a long course of antibiotics.


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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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