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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Overview
Anthrax is a disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that has the ability to form spores; spores are cells that are essentially dormant (asleep) but may become active under certain conditions. Anthrax disease can take 3 forms:
  • Involving the skin (cutaneous) – 20% mortality
  • Involving the lungs (inhalational) – 90% mortality
  • Involving the digestive system (gastrointestinal) – 100% mortality
The vast majority of cases of anthrax (95%) are cutaneous. As a naturally occurring disease, anthrax is very rare. However, it has the potential to be used as a weapon of bioterrorism; this occurred in 2001 with an attack on the United States via the US Postal service. Anthrax was mixed in powder that was put into letters and packages and sent to prominent US figures, including senators. A number of people contracted cutaneous or inhalational anthrax from exposure to the powder, and some people died. If there were to be future attacks on the US using anthrax, it would probably be disseminated as an aerosol, and the resulting cases would be inhalational anthrax.
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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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