Anthrax - Medtick
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Anthrax

What is it?

A rare disease bacterial disease that normally only affects sheep and cattle which eat infected food and soil.

  • Humans get the condition by touching infected cattle and infected soil.
  • The infection occurs if one has broken skin and hence the bacteria enter the skin.
  • If one has mild symptoms recovery occurs after three weeks, however if inhaled or ingested the bacteria serious conditions can occur.
  • Persons affected can be wool workers, handling animals, farmers, gardeners, hair and bristle industries, meat industries and butchers.

The main countries affected:

  • Africa
  • Middle East
  • The Caribbean

Countries affected are:

Africa

  • Namibia
  • United Republic of Tanzania (Zanzibar)

Cause

  • Bacteria: Bacillus anthracis
  • Skin injury causing broken skin
  • Breathing the bacteria in (woolsorters‘ disease)
  • Eating infected meat (animal has eaten from infected soils) and vegetables (grown in infected soils).

Symptoms

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Appearance of a bitten skin (malignant pustule) like an itchy bump with redness?
  • Skin can then become like a circular blister (1-3cm diameter) and opens up with swelling of the skin a day later?
  • Bleeding and bruising under the skin?
  • Ulcer becomes like a black scab (necrotic eschar) which can leave a scar?
  • Red streaks, swollen and sore rash (swelling of lymph glands)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Anthrax in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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