What is Anthrax? Its Symptoms and How to Overcome it
Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by a rod-positive gram-positive bacterium known as Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax can be found naturally on the ground and usually infects domestic wild animals around the world. Although rare, people can get anthrax if they make direct contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
Contact with anthrax can cause serious illness, both in humans and animals. Anhtrax is not easily contagious, meaning you will not be susceptible to infection like a fever or flu.
What are the signs and symptoms?
The symptoms of anthrax depend on the type of infection and can appear for one day or even more than 2 months. All types of anthrax have the potential to spread throughout the body and cause serious illness and even death.
Symptoms of skin-related anthrax include:
A collection of blisters on the skin, or a small portion of blistered or bumpy skin that causes itching
Injuries to the skin that are not painful, with a black center appearing on the bump
Usually wounds can occur on the face, neck, arms, or hands
Swelling can occur around the wound
Symptoms of respiratory-related anthrax:
- Heat and fever
- Chest feeling uncomfortable
- Short breath
- Confusion or dizziness
- Cough
- Nausea, vomiting, or stomach ache
- Headache
- A cold sweat
- Extreme fatigue
- Unwell
Anthrax symptoms associated with the digestive system include:
- Heat and fever
- Neck or neck gland swelling
- Sore throat
- Sick of swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Nausea and vomiting, especially vomiting bleeding
- Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
- Headache
- Blushing face and eyes
- Stomach ache
- Fainted
- Abdominal swelling (stomach)
Symptoms of anthrax due to drug injection:
- Heat and fever
- A collection of small lumps that can feel itchy, usually appear at the location where the drug is injected
- Wounds on the skin with a black center, usually appear after a lump
- Swelling around the wound
An abscess or boil under the wound or in the muscle where the drug is injected
You need to remember, the symptoms of anthrax due to injection of drugs are similar to anthrax in the skin, but anthrax due to injection of drugs can spread in the body faster, more difficult to recognize, and more difficult to handle than anthrax in the skin.
Skin infections or areas of drug injection are common and do not indicate that someone is suffering from anthrax.
How to overcome
What should I do?
Doctors may have several options for dealing with anthrax patients, including antibiotics and antitoxin. Patients with serious cases of anthrax need to be hospitalized. They may require serious treatment, such as infusion of fluids and mechanical ventilation aids for breathing
Antibiotics
All types of anthrax infections can be treated with antibiotics, including injection antibiotics (treatment is given through the pulse). If someone has symptoms of anthrax, it is important to get medical treatment as soon as possible for complete recovery. Doctors will choose the best antibiotics to treat anthrax according to the patient's medical history.
Antitoksine
When anthrax wounds spread to the inside of the body, the virus can be 'activated'. When the virus becomes active, the anthrax bacteria can multiply, spread throughout the body, and produce toxins or poisons. The anthrax poison in the body can cause serious illness.
After anthrax toxin is removed from the body, one possible treatment is the administration of antitoxin. Antitoxin attacks anthrax toxins in the body. Doctors must use antitoxin along with other treatment options.
At present, there are several types of antitoxin that can be used to treat anthrax.
When should I see a doctor?
If you suspect you have anthrax, you need to see a doctor and explain why you think you have anthrax. Your doctor can explain the use of antibiotics to prevent you from getting sick. If you have already felt the symptoms of anthrax, it is important to immediately contact medical help as soon as possible to get a chance to recover.
Prevention
Antibiotics can prevent the development of anthrax in people who have been infected but have not shown symptoms of anthrax. Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline are two antibiotics that can be used to prevent anthrax.
Vaccine
The vaccine does not contain any anthrax bacteria and cannot be given to anthrax sensers. If there is an emergency due to anthrax, people who get anthrax can be given an anthrax vaccine to prevent the development of the disease. This is permitted under special protocols for vaccine use in emergency situations
Routine Use (Before Attack)
The anthrax vaccine is routinely used by three groups of adults aged 18 to 65 who may be at risk for anthrax because of their work, such as:
- Certain laboratory employees who work with anthrax
- Some people handle animals or animal products, such as some veterinarians (veterinarians or people who are experts in animal disease)
- Some members of the military
To build protection against anthrax, this group of people must consume 5 doses of the anthrax vaccine for approximately 18 months. To remain protected, they must get a routine dose. Dosage is injected through muscles (intramuscular)
Those Who Can not Get Anthrax Vaccine
Some people should not take anthrax, including:
People who have a serious allergic reaction to the dose of the previous anthrax vaccine.
People with serious allergies to any component related to the anthrax vaccine. People who have severe allergies, including allergies to latex, must inform the doctor.
For people with normal or severe illness, your doctor may recommend waiting until healed and then given a vaccine. People with mild pain can be given a vaccine directly.
Pregnant women are not recommended to get a vaccine.
Emergency Use (After Attacking)
In certain situations, such as the occurrence of bioterrorists or attacks related to anthrax, the anthrax vaccine may be recommended to prevent anthrax attacks in people who have previously been attacked.
If this really happens, people who get anthrax will get 3 times the dose of the anthrax vaccine for 4 weeks plus 60 days of antibiotic use to prevent the disease
