Chapter 4 Anthrax vs Smallpox

Anthrax

acute infection in three forms: cutaneous, inhalation, intestinal

anthrax etiology

exposure to infectious animals or tissue from infected animals and direct contact with Bacillus anthracis

anthrax signs and symptoms

raised itchy bump, cold resemblance, intestinal tract inflammation

anthrax diagnostics

B. anthracis collected from affected tissue, cultures bacteria from blood, skin lesion, respiratory secretions

anthrax treatment

cutaneous doxycycline and ciprofloxacin antibiotics, broad spectrum antimicrobial agents, antitoxin,

anthrax complementary therapy

no specific, supportive measures

anthrax prognosis

cutaneous is curative, 20% mortality rate

inhalation is 75% mortality rate

intestinal is 85% mortality rate

anthrax prevention

vaccination not for general public

Smallpox

serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal. systemic disease with rash, eradicated in 1979, used as a weapon,

smallpox etiology

variold poxvirus, spread through infected respiratory droplets, dried scales from lesions, contact with contaminated linens and other objects

smallpox signs and symptoms

fever, abrupt chills, headache, backache, severe malaise, and vomitting.

smallpox diagnostics

culture of vesicles and pustules confirms presence of the variola virus

small pox complementary therapy

no significant

smallpox prognosis

death in about 30% of cases

smallpox prevention

vaccine but not for the general public