Anthrax (Siberian plague). Part two.

In gastrointestinal form of anthrax (alimentary anthracic sepsis) toxicosis develops from first hours of the disease onset. Appear severe weakness, abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea. Patient's condition worsens. On skin may occur secondary pustular and haemorrhagic rash. Then occurs shortness of breath and cyanosis. Possibly may occur meningoencephalitis. Diseased people die from growing heart failure in 3 – 4 days after disease onset.

Pulmonary anthrax is characterized with heavy onset: chill, sudden body temperature increase, chest pains, cough with albuminoid sputum, common intoxication, respiratory and cardio-vascular failure. Clinically and radiologically are identified bronchial pneumonia and hemorrhagic pleurisy. Death occurs on 2 – 3 day and is caused by pulmonary edema and collapse.

Septic form of anthrax courses severely and terminates with death.

Treatment
Independently of the form, in anthrax treatment may be used nosotropic or causal therapies. Prognosis for cutaneous anthrax is favorable. In septic forms prognosis is doubtful, even if the treatment was started at once.

Preventive Measures

• right organization of veterinary inspection
• vaccination of domestic animals
• animals dead from anthrax must be burned and products obtained from them must be destroyed