What are the symptoms of anthrax disease?
Symptoms of anthrax disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but usually occur within 7 days after exposure. Cutaneous anthrax infections occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin when handling contaminated wool, hides, leather or hair products (especially goat hair) of infected animals. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite but within 1-2 days develops into a vesicle and then a painless ulcer with a black necrotic (dying) area in the center. Initial symptoms of inhalation anthrax may resemble a common cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Intestinal anthrax is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial signs include nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and fever, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea.
