Anthrax facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anthrax
A skin lesion with black eschar characteristic of anthrax
Symptoms	Skin form: small blister with surrounding swelling Inhalational form: fever, chest pain, shortness of breath Intestinal form: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Injection form: fever, abscess
Usual onset	1 day to 2 months post contact
Causes	Bacillus anthracis
Risk factors	Working with animals, travelers, postal workers, military personnel
Diagnostic method	Based on antibodies or toxin in the blood, microbial culture
Prevention	Anthrax vaccination, antibiotics
Treatment	Antibiotics, antitoxin
Prognosis	20–80% die without treatment
Frequency	>2,000 cases per year

Anthrax is a serious infection. It is caused by a type of bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. People usually get infected by touching the bacteria on their skin. They can also get it by breathing in the bacteria or by eating something that has it.

What Does "Anthrax" Mean?

The word "anthrax" comes from the Greek word for "coal." This name was chosen because people with the skin form of anthrax often get a black lesion (a sore or wound) on their skin. This black spot looks a bit like coal.

Long ago, anthrax was known by many different names. Some of these names described its symptoms or where it was found. Examples include Siberian plague, charbon, and woolsorter's disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Anthrax?

Symptoms of anthrax can appear from one day to over two months after someone is infected.

Skin Anthrax

• This is the most common type.
• It starts as a small blister with swelling around it.
• This often turns into a painless sore with a black center.

Inhaled Anthrax

• This type happens when you breathe in the bacteria.
• Symptoms include fever, chest pain, and trouble breathing (shortness of breath).

Intestinal Anthrax

• This type happens if you eat the bacteria.
• Symptoms include diarrhea (which might have blood), stomach pains, feeling sick (nausea), and throwing up (vomiting).

How Was Anthrax Discovered?

Scientists first described skin anthrax in the mid-1700s. But it was the Prussian scientist Robert Koch (1843–1910) who made a big discovery. He was the first to find out that Bacillus anthracis is the specific bacterium that causes anthrax.

How Does Anthrax Spread?

Anthrax spreads through tiny, tough parts of the bacteria called spores. These spores are often found in products from infected animals. People can get infected by breathing in these spores. They can also get it by eating them or if the spores get into a cut on their skin.

Anthrax does not usually spread directly from one person to another. People who work with animals or animal products are more at risk. Military personnel can also be at higher risk. Doctors can find out if someone has anthrax by looking for special antibodies or toxins in their blood. They can also grow a sample from the infected area in a lab (microbial culture).

How Can We Prevent Anthrax?

There is an anthrax vaccine available. It is suggested for people who have a high chance of getting infected. Animals can also get vaccinated against anthrax. This is common in areas where the disease has appeared before.

If someone has been near anthrax spores, they can take antibiotics for about two months. This can stop them from getting sick. Common antibiotics used include ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and doxycycline.

If someone does get infected, they are treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, they might also get an antitoxin. The treatment depends on the type of anthrax infection. Antitoxin is often used for widespread infections.

Where Is Anthrax Found?

Human anthrax is rare. It is most common in Africa and parts of Asia. It also appears more often in Southern Europe than in Northern Europe or North America.

Globally, there are at least 2,000 cases each year. In the United States, there are usually about two cases a year. Most cases (over 95%) are skin infections.

Without treatment, about 24% of people with skin anthrax might die. For intestinal anthrax, the risk of death is higher, between 25% and 75%. For inhaled anthrax, the risk is 50% to 80%, even with treatment. Before the 1900s, anthrax killed many people and animals every year.

Animals like cows and sheep can get infected by eating or breathing in spores while grazing. Other animals can get infected by eating infected animals.

Anthrax as a Weapon

Anthrax has been developed as a weapon by some countries. It has been used in biological warfare and bioterrorism. However, in 1975, many countries agreed to a rule called the Biological Weapons Convention. This rule made it illegal to "develop, produce and stockpile" biological weapons. Despite this, anthrax has still been used in bioterrorism by some groups.

Anthrax in Other Animals

Anthrax is very rare in pets like dogs and cats. However, it can cause outbreaks in some wild animal groups.

Scientists in Russia believe that the frozen ground (arctic permafrost) holds about 1.5 million reindeer that died from anthrax. The spores can stay alive in permafrost for a very long time. There is a worry that if global warming in the Arctic causes the permafrost to melt, these anthrax spores could be released. For example, in 2016, an anthrax outbreak in reindeer was linked to a 75-year-old animal carcass that thawed during a heat wave.

See also

In Spanish: Carbunco para niños