Anthrax is caused by a spore forming bacterium name
is Bacillus anthracis. Most
common in animals, but humans can get the disease too. Other names for the
disease are Wool sorter’s Disease and Ragpicker’s Disease. It is aerobic and
non-motile usually about 3 microns in diameter.
There are three forms of Anthrax that will affect the human body
ž Inhalation
Anthrax
ž Cutaneous
Anthrax
ž Gastrointestinal
Tract Anthrax
Inhalation Anthrax
You infected by the disease, if the spores enter
into the body through the nasal passage. Usually the person will recover if
treatment is given right away. Once the patient has entered stage two without
treatment it is likely the patient will die.
Symptoms
First
stage symptoms include: fever, malaise, headache, cough,
shortness of breath, and chest pain.
Second
stage symptoms include: fever, Severe shortness of
breath, and shock. Most likely followed by death.
Tests That Should Be Done
To see if it really is inhalation anthrax the
hospital should run the following tests: chest x-ray, blood cultures, sputum
cultures, and a spinal tap. Also you should do a gram stain to better see the
results. For identification of Bacillus
anthracis through staining, one must observe encapsulated bacilli when
using polychrome methelyene-blue stain [Turnbull, 1996]. The typical appearance
includes matte appearance, flat, tacky, white or gray white, and non-hemolytic
on blood agar.
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