Cutaneous anthrax

Alternative names:

anthrax - skin

Definition:

A disease that affects mostly farm animals; humans acquire it through a break in the skin when in direct contact with animals.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Anthrax is caused by the bacterium bacillus anthracis. It is a disease of sheep, cattle, horses, goats, and swine. Human infection, though rare is an occupational disease of farm workers, veterinarians, and tannery and wool workers. The disease has a skin form (cutaneous anthrax) and a pulmonary form (inhalation anthrax).

Cutaneous anthrax is transmitted through a break in the skin. Infection produces a localized skin lesion with tissue death resulting in a black necrotic eschar. From the localized lesion infection may spread through the bloodstream and cause sweating, fever, chills, shock, cyanosis, and collapse. The incidence is 1 out of 100,000 people.