Anthrax

To diagnose anthrax, your healthcare professional needs to know what kind of work you do and how likely it is that you've been exposed to anthrax. The first step will be to rule out other, more-common conditions that can cause your symptoms. These include the flu and pneumonia.

Tests

You may have a rapid flu test to see if you have the flu. If other tests are negative, you may have tests to look for anthrax. These might include:

• Skin testing. A sample of fluid from a sore on your skin or a small tissue sample, called a biopsy, may be tested in a lab for cutaneous anthrax.
• Blood tests. You may have a small amount of blood drawn that's checked in a lab for anthrax bacteria.
• Chest X-ray or CT scan. These can help diagnose anthrax that's breathed in, called inhalation anthrax.
• Stool testing. Testing stool for anthrax bacteria can help diagnose gastrointestinal anthrax.
• Spinal tap, also called lumbar puncture. In this test, a healthcare professional puts a needle into your spinal canal and takes a small amount of fluid. A spinal tap is done for suspected anthrax that affects more than the skin. This is to test for meningitis.

The standard treatment for anthrax is use of antibiotics, and in some cases antitoxin. (4) The specific antibiotic chosen will depend on a range of factors, including if there’s a need to treat many people. Which single antibiotic or combination of antibiotics, and the length of treatment, will be most effective for you depends on how you were infected with anthrax, the strain of anthrax, your age, your overall health and other concerns. Treatment works best when started as soon as possible.

Medicine

Since the 2001 attacks in the United States, researchers have developed the antitoxin therapies raxibacumab and obiltoxaximab for inhalation anthrax. These medicines help get rid of the toxins the infection causes. Anthrax immunoglobulin also may be used on the toxins.

These medicines are given with antibiotics. Healthcare professionals can get them through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Some cases of anthrax respond to antibiotics. But advanced inhalation anthrax may not. By the later stages of the disease, the bacteria have often made more toxins than medicines can get rid of.

Therapies

People with anthrax also may be treated to ease symptoms. This may include machines to help them breathe, called ventilators. It also may include fluids and medicines to tighten blood vessels and raise blood pressure, called vasopressors.

Surgery or other procedures

Some cases of anthrax from injecting illicit drugs have been treated with surgical removal of infected tissue. Surgery may be needed for other types of anthrax, as well.

Other procedures may involve the draining of fluids that build up in the lungs, called pleural effusion, or in the belly, called ascites.

Symptoms of anthrax often come on suddenly and can be very serious. If you know you've been exposed to anthrax or if you get symptoms after a possible exposure, go to an emergency room right away.

If you have time before you go, make a list of:

• Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to anthrax.
• Key personal information. This includes recent travel to a part of the world where anthrax is common and whether you've been in contact with livestock, game animals or animal skins.
• A list of all medicines, vitamins and supplements you take, including doses.
• Questions to ask your healthcare team. For instance, if you're diagnosed with anthrax, asked about how you got infected, the treatment and how you might respond to treatment.

Take a family member or friend with you, if possible, to help you remember the information you get.