What is Anthrax?
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis). Anthrax most commonly occurs in wild and domestic lower-vertebrates (cattle, sheep, goats, camels, antelopes, and other herbivores), but it can also occur in humans when they are exposed to infected animals or tissue from infected animals (including carcasses, hides, hair, wool, meat, and bone meal). Ántrax – Hoja Informativa
Children and Anthrax: Information for Parents
How to Reduce Children’s Fears
Help your children feel safe. Let them talk about their fears and worries. Stick to family routines that help children feel comfortable and secure. Reassure children that parents, teachers, doctors, and government officials are doing everything possible to keep them safe and healthy.
Limit children’s viewing of television news. Children may be frightened, overwhelmed, or traumatized by news reports about bioterrorism. Supervise what they watch on television. When children do watch the news, be sure to allow for family-discussion time during and after viewing to let them speak their fears and concerns.
Get the facts. Education is your best protection against unnecessary fear. Your children will be less fearful if they see that you are not afraid and if you spend time with them answering all of their questions
What Every Parent Should Know
The chances of your children being exposed to bacteria that cause anthrax are extremely low. However, if public health officials are sure or think that you or your children have been exposed to the bacteria, your doctor or other health official will prescribe antibiotics to keep you and your children from developing anthrax. Early identification and the giving of antibiotics for anthrax in children is important. Call your health care provider right away with any questions or concerns.
Anthrax is an illness caused by bacteria (germs) called Bacillus anthracis. These bacteria are found naturally in the soil. They can form a protective coat around themselves called spores, and they can release poisonous substances into the bodies of infected people.
You and your children cannot catch anthrax from each other or from any other person. If you were to become sick with anthrax, you could not pass it on to your children. Also, even if someone were to put the anthrax bacteria in your workplace on purpose, it is unlikely that you would carry the bacteria home to your children on your clothes or hair.
People come into contact with (are “exposed” to) bacteria or become infected with bacteria that cause anthrax in three ways. They can be exposed and infected by 1) breathing in the bacteria, 2) by coming into contact with the bacteria through cuts or abrasions in the skin, or 3) by eating something that contains the bacteria (usually undercooked meat from an infected animal). The chance of being exposed to the bacteria in any of these ways is very low. Also, our bodies have defenses against bacteria, so not everyone who comes into contact with the bacteria will become ill with anthrax.
There are three kinds of anthrax, all of which can be cured with antibiotics:
- Skin (cutaneous) anthrax is the least serious form of anthrax. The first symptom is a small, painless sore that becomes a blister. One or two days later, the blister develops a black scab in the center.
- Gastrointestinal anthrax from eating or drinking infected products is more serious than skin anthrax. The first symptoms are nausea, loss of appetite, and fever, followed by bad stomach pain. This is the least common form of anthrax.
- Breathing in (Inhalational) anthrax is the most serious form of anthrax. It begins with flu or cold-like symptoms. If caught early, inhalation anthrax can be cured successfully with antibiotics. If it isn’t caught early and more serious symptoms develop, inhalation anthrax usually results in death. Almost all cold and flu symptoms are not anthrax.
The symptoms of anthrax infection in children older than 2 months of age are similar to those in adults. The illness affects children and adults in much the same way, though children may be more likely to suffer side effects from some of the antibiotics used to prevent or cure the disease.
Although you may want to ask your doctor for antibiotics to keep in case of an emergency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics do NOT recommend doing this. You should not get antibiotics for your children unless public health authorities are sure that it is likely that your children have been exposed with the bacteria that cause anthrax. Giving your children antibiotics when they are not needed can do more harm than good. Many antibiotics have serious side effects in children, and using antibiotics when they are not needed can lead to the development of drug-resistant forms of bacteria in your children. If this happens, antibiotics will not work in curing ear, sinus, or other infections that children frequently develop.
Currently, there is no anthrax vaccine for children. The anthrax vaccine used for adults has never been studied in children. It is currently available only for people in the military service.
Why has anthrax become a current issue?
Anthrax is considered to be a potential agent for use in biological warfare.
How common is anthrax and who can get it?
Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals. These include South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products. Workers who are exposed to dead animals and animal products from other countries where anthrax is more common may become infected with B. anthracis (industrial anthrax). Anthrax in wild livestock has occurred in the United States.
How is anthrax transmitted?
Anthrax infection can occur in three forms: (1) cutaneous (skin), (2) inhalation and (3) gastrointestinal. B. anthracis spores can live in the soil for many years, and humans can become infected with anthrax by handling products from infected animals or by inhaling anthrax spores from contaminated animal products. Eating undercooked meat from infected animals can also spread anthrax. It is rare to find infected animals in the United States.
What are the symptoms of anthrax?
Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but symptoms usually occur within 7 days.
- Cutaneous (Skin): Most anthrax infections (about 95% occur when the bacterium enters a cut or abrasion on the skin, such as when handling contaminated wool, hides, leather or hair products (especially goat hair) of infected animals. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that resembles an insect bite but within 1-2 days develops into a vesicle and then a painless ulcer, usually 1-3cm in diameter, with a characteristic black necrotic (dying) area in the center. Lymph glands in the adjacent area may swell. About 20% of cases of cutaneous anthrax where the person does not receive antibiotics will end in death. Deaths are rare with appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
- Inhalation: Initial symptoms may resemble a common cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax is usually fatal.
- Intestinal: The intestinal disease form of anthrax may follow the consumption of contaminated meat and is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Intestinal anthrax results in death in 25% to 60% of cases.
Where is anthrax usually found?
Anthrax can be found globally. It is more common in developing countries or countries without veterinary public health programs. Certain regions of the world (South and Central America, southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East) report more anthrax in animals than others.
Can anthrax be spread from person-to-person?
Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely to occur. Communicability is not a concern in managing or visiting people with inhalation anthrax.
Is there a way to prevent infection?
In countries where anthrax is common and vaccination levels of animal herds are low, humans should avoid contact with livestock and animal products and avoid eating meat that has not been properly slaughtered and cooked. Also, an anthrax vaccine has been licensed for use in humans. The vaccine is reported to be 93% effective in protecting against anthrax.
How is anthrax diagnosed?
Anthrax is diagnosed by isolating B. anthracis from the blood, skin lesions, or respiratory secretions or by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of persons with suspected cases.
Is there a medication for anthrax?
Doctors can prescribe effective antibiotics. To be effective, antibiotics should be initiated early. If a person has anthrax and does not start antibiotics, they can die.
What is the anthrax vaccine?
There is an anthrax vaccine for adults at this time. It is manufactured and distributed by BioPort Corporation, Lansing, Michigan. The vaccine is a cell-free filtrate vaccine, which means it contains no dead or live bacteria in the preparation. The final product contains no more than 2.4mg of aluminum hydroxide as adjuvant. Anthrax vaccines intended for animals should not be used in humans.
Who should get vaccinated against anthrax?
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends anthrax vaccine for the following groups:
- Persons who work directly with the organism in the laboratory
- Persons who work with imported animal hides or furs in areas where standards are insufficient to prevent exposure to anthrax spores.
- Persons who handle potentially infected animal products in high-incidence areas.
- Military personnel deployed to areas with high risk for exposure to the organism, as when it is used as a biological warfare weapon.
- Pregnant women should be vaccinated only of absolutely necessary.
What is the protocol for anthrax vaccination?
The immunization consists of three subcutaneous injections given 2 weeks apart followed by three additional subcutaneous injections given at 6, 12 and 18 months. Annual booster injections of the vaccine are recommended thereafter.
Are there adverse reactions to the anthrax vaccine?
Mild local reactions occur in 30% of recipients and consist of slight tenderness and redness at the injection site. Severe local reactions are infrequent and consist of extensive swelling of the forearm in addition to the local reaction. Systemic reactions occur in less than 0.2% of recipients.
For more information, contact:
Ohio Department of Health
https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/infectious-disease-control-manual/section3/section-3-anthrax
Centers for Disease Control
https://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/about/index.html
