Anthrax: What are the symptoms in humans

Overview

Anthrax is caused by infection with the human organism Bacillus anthracis. This is a fairly large-sized Gram-positive rods, relating to facultative anaerobes. It is highly resistant to the adverse effects of the environment, as is capable of forming a capsule. The encapsulated form of anthrax may exist for decades in soil or an aqueous environment. Even different disinfection methods for destroying pathogenic agents in this case requires quite a long time. For example, when exposed to disinfectants coli dies only two hours.

Anthrax when ingested susceptible organism secretes a specific exotoxin. It consists of three main protein factors which cause during the infectious process: edema, immunogenic and lethal. Their combined effect causes swelling of tissues infected with impaired in their trophic and metabolism, as well as inhibition of phagocytic responses.

Causes

How is the infection?

• The main source for human infection with anthrax are herbivores. They are infected at the use of grass and water, which are contaminated with the pathogen spores.
• Epidemic represent a hazard to human feces, skin, and meat of cattle and small livestock.
• Contamination can occur when maintenance and slaughtering animals, and also as a result of cooking or eating insufficiently processed meats.
• The main mechanism of human infection - pin. Anthrax enters the bloodstream and tissues through broken skin or mucous.
• From person to person Bacillus anthracis is transmitted.

pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of infection with this disease occurs in several stages:

• Bacillus anthracis penetrates through the damaged areas of skin or mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract in susceptible organism.
• Almost immediately, the pathogen begins to produce exotoxins that cause development in place of "entrance gate" of infection serosanguineous inflammation. It is characterized by impaired blood flow in small blood vessels, tissue dramatically swell, there hemorrhagic changes.
• Later it formed in this place typical carbuncle with necrosis in the central portion region. Sometimes, instead of a carbuncle may form bubbles or pseudoerysipelas.
• Regional lymph nodes are increased as a result of the infiltration of the pathogen and Development lymphadenitis.
• Septic anthrax in skin manifestations is rare. It is more common when infected through the intestinal tract or respiratory system.

Classification

Depending on the characteristic clinical manifestations of active anthrax infectious process is divided into two main types:

• Cutaneous, characterized only by the presence of cutaneous manifestations of the disease.
• Generalized form, which manifests itself in violation of the work as defined systems and the whole organism.

In turn, these forms can manifest a variety of symptoms, which gave rise to the creation of an expanded anthrax classification. For example, cutaneous form can be divided, depending on the nature of the lesions, into three types:

• Karbunkulezny process. Characterized by the rapid formation at the site of "entrance gate" blackleg infection.
• When edematous species formed a single focus of inflammation, which can then develop bacteremia.
• Bullous form is characterized by having not one but several hemorrhagic bubbles.

In characterizing generalized infection are the following kinds of pathological process:

• When the pneumonic form predominantly affected respiratory system.
• If clinical symptoms predominate intestinal manifestations, then talk about the intestinal form of anthrax.
• In more severe disease may develop primary or secondary sepsis.

symptoms

Anthrax begins with the incubation period, which lasts for about two weeks, however, it can be reduced up to a couple of hours. Clinical manifestations of infection to fully depend on the evolving forms of the disease.

The cutaneous form is most often found in the form of karbunkuleznogo the course of infection and manifested by the following symptoms:

• red spot is formed in the site of primary infection.
• Later it becomes the basis for the formation of specific papules bright red.
• There is intense itching and a slight tingling sensation in the area of ​​the wound surface.
• Of papules quickly converted into a vesicle, with bloody or red-violet content.
• Vesicle breaks with the formation of characteristic ulcerations brown with serous-hemorrhagic secretions - this anthrax carbuncle.
• Along the edges of the ulcer can form secondary vesicles of a smaller size with subsequent ulceration.
• A week later, the bottom of the ulcer necrotic eschar formation with black color and formation around inflammatory roller. This is one of the typical signs of disease diagnostics.
• Inflammation is accompanied by a gelatinous edema.
• The next characteristic diagnostic symptom is the loss of pain sensitivity in the area of ​​necrotic tissue.
• Regional lymph nodes are enlarged, that is, is formed lymphadenitisAnd in more severe infection can identify and lymphangitis.
• Symptomatology of acute intoxication developed almost from the first hours of the disease.
• After two or three weeks after the first signs of anthrax departs eschar, ulcerations place begins to heal with scar formation.

For the pneumonic form of generalized infection, depending on the phase of development, identify the following symptoms:

• The first phase is similar to anthrax flu. There are symptoms of intoxication, myalgia, headache, fever. Patients concerned about runny nose, cough and shortness of breath.
• The next phase of intoxication symptoms increase. The temperature may rise to 41 ° C and accompanied by chills, chest pain. Appears bloody sputum, which quickly folds into a characteristic "cherry jelly." Begins to develop infectious pneumonia or pleurisy.
• Later, the patient develops a serious malfunction of the heart, in the field of pulmonary edema, and oliguria.

In the intestinal form and there are three phases of infection:

• The first stage of anthrax lasts about a day and is characterized by symptoms of acute intoxication with fever, headache, pain in the throat area.
• Later, there is a sharp pain in the abdomen, bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
• At the final stage identifies symptoms of heart failure. The patient's face becomes purple with a bluish tint. Sclera eyes turn red, they can burst blood vessels.

Septic anthrax manifested symptoms of primary or secondary sepsis with rapidly increasing intoxication. Revealed a massive hemorrhage in the area of ​​the skin and internal organs. More often than not, this form ends with the development of infectious-toxic shock.

Diagnostics

• Based on the characteristic clinical symptoms.
• It is taken into account and the availability of epidemiological prerequisites for infection.
• Conducted bacteriological research with isolation and identification of Bacillus anthracis pure culture.
• Made serological studies.
• Cutaneous samples taken from antraksinom.

Treatment

• The patient to be hospitalized in the box Chamber of infectious hospital or department.
• Antibiotic treatment is conducted for a long time until the elimination of the symptoms of intoxication.
• Introduced protivosibireyazvenny immunoglobulin.
• Detoxification therapy is performed by infusion.
• On foci formation carbuncles superimposed aseptic bandage.

prevention

• Epidemic surveillance provides detection and monitoring of the population that are at risk.
• Veterinary supervision involves identifying dysfunctional epidemiologically settlements and holding them in the immunization of animals. In addition, it established control over the care, feeding livestock, harvesting and processing of meat. Controlled by the content of cattle cemetery.
• Medico-sanitary inspection includes the control of disease and vaccination for specific population in epidemic-prone areas.

Forecast

More or less favorable prognosis for recovery from anthrax can be only forms in skin infections. Generalized form of anthrax occurs quite hard and often it ends in death of the patient. The risk of death is reduced by early detection of infection and the treatment time begun.

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